Politics of statues for identity
Hyderabad: Politics over statues has come alive again in the state at a time when political parties and caste groups in the state are struggling for their identity.
While the political parties are trying to strike a chord with the public by unveiling the statues of popular leaders, Sunday's attack on the statues of Ambedkar and the subsequent protests have become an issue of argument with Dalit communities complaining of oppression by upper castes.
It was YSR Congress president YS Jaganmohan Reddy who went on a spree of unveiling the statues of his father YS Rajasekhara Reddy. The Kadapa MP is still installing statues of his father in every corner of the state.
Though he claims that the statues are being put up by the admirers of the late chief minister, his partymen admit that they pool in money for the statues. On an average, about 40 statues of YSR are being unveiled in each district in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema.
The phenomenon is relatively rare in Telangana. The TDP is adopting the same tactics and installing the statues of its founder NT Rama Rao.
Within a month of announcing his intention to contest the next election, NTR's son and actor Balakrishna has unveiled at least 10 statues in Visakhapatnam, Krishna and the two Godavari districts.
'People would easily connect with popular leaders like NTR and this was the reason for installation of his statues. However, unlike YSR's statues which were being installed without civic permission, NTR statues are being installed by his admirers after obtaining all prescribed permissions. Balakrishna is only unveiling them,' said a TDP leader.
Sources said that as Chandrababu Naidu did not want to give an opportunity to his detractors for dethroning NTR and was therefore unveiling NTR statues, Balakrishna was chosen to do the act apart from striking a rapport with local leaders.
However, Naidu will unveil the statues of NTR at Nadukuru and Bhairavapatnam in Krishna district during his visit on Wednesday. This is probably for the first time that the TDP chief will be unveiling statues of NTR after installing one at his native place Naravaripalle in Chittoor district.
Though the precise reasons for vandalising the statues of Ambedkar at Amalapuram on Sunday night are yet to be ascertained, the SC community is viewing it as an attack on its identity by upper castes.
Kaka Wants Ambedkar Statues Monitored by a National Panel
Senior Congress leader and former Union minister G Venkat Swamy has demanded that the UPA government appoint a commission to monitor Ambedkar statues in all parts of the country.
Talking with reporters along with his son G Vivekananda, MP, at his residence here on Tuesday, the veteran leader said the proposed national-level commission should inquire the demolition of the national leader's statues at Amalapuram in East Godavari district on Sunday night.
News Posted: 25 January, 2012
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