Statue's desecration: TDP MLAs seek Kodandaram's apology, blame govt

Condemning the desecration and razing of statues of eminent Telugu personalities on the Tank Bund on Thursday by pro-Telangana activists during the ‘Million March’, Telugu Desam Party MLAs from Seemandhra region on Friday demanded an explanation from the Telangana Rashtra Samithi leadership and held the government responsible for its failure to provide adequate protection.

Talking to media persons after inspecting the damage inflicted on the statues on Tank Bund a day after the pro-Telangana activists went berserk, MLA Payyavula Keshav demanded explanation from the Telangana Political Joint Action Committee convenor Kodandaram on the shocking incident. Mr Keshav also demanded that Prof Kodandaram issue an apology to the Telugu people for damage to the statues.

Alleging the statues were destroyed in a pre-planned manner to create animosity between people from Seemandhra and Telangana regions, Mr Keshav stated that the pro-Telangana activists had also tried to cover their reprehensible actions by destroying the cameras of the media persons. He said that the pro-Telangana activities tried to ensure that the violators of law would not be recognised and the case might be hushed up.

Senior TDP leader Ashok Gajapathi Raju lamented that the police remained mute spectators even as the statues were being damaged. He demanded that the state government explain the reasons for its failure in not taking action against guilty. 

Senior leader Gali Muddukrishnama Naidu stated that the damage caused to the statues has hurt the sentiments of Telugu people.

Mr Payyavula Keshav stated the government should be held responsible for the violence that took place on the Tank Bund and demanded explanation for the police failure.

The MLAs pledged to grill the government in the Assembly over the incident.