On Monday, the grandiose state-sponsored celebrations of the 75th birth anniversary of former chief minister of united Andhra Pradesh Dr Y.S. Rajashekar Reddy saw his hoardings everywhere rekindling the memories the people of the state forgot more than a decade ago.
The two political events in quick succession involving two leaders, who did everything at their disposal to prevent the bifurcation of united Andhra Pradesh, are all set to trigger an intense churning among those who fought for the statehood for Telangana though it is early to assess the political ramifications.
The developments, however, are sure to give the much-needed leverage for which the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is desperately looking for to recover from the two consecutive poll drubbings.
“We will definitely highlight the revival of efforts by Andhra leaders to regain control over Telangana, this time through their proxies,” former BRS minister T. Harish Rao told Deccan Chronicle. “Like what we are doing with the failures of the Revanth Reddy government, we will register this conspiracy in the minds of people,” he added.
BRS leaders were of the view that Telangana people do not forget the humiliating words and deeds of Rajashekar Reddy including his contention that 100 crore Indians, not just three or four crore people from Telangana should decide on the statehood. “Is Telangana a cigarette or beedi to give away on demand is how YSR reacted to the struggle and sacrifices rendered by thousands of youth,” Harish Rao pointed out.
The Telangana unit of the Congress, however, went all out to celebrate the birth anniversary of one of its stalwarts — and even justified it stating that his welfare initiatives and his work on the irrigation front benefited the region as well.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy attributed the social and economic growth of Telangana region to the foundations laid by Rajashekar Reddy in a memorial function organised at Gandhi Bhavan.
He also led a contingent of Telangana ministers, including Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka to AP capital Vijayawada to attend the celebrations organised by Y.S. Sharmila Reddy, the daughter of Rajasekhar Reddy.
On Naidu’s show of strength, Congress leader T. Jagga Reddy alleged that the former was a pawn in the hands of the BJP and was acting at the behest of the saffron party.