Hyderabad: Kalvakuntla Kavitha criticised the Telangana Thalli statue unveiled at the Telangana Legislative Assembly and accused Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of attempting to erase the history of the Telangana movement.
The Telangana Jagruthi president and former MP reacted after Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla unveiled the Telangana Thalli statue at the Assembly complex. Kavitha said the depiction of Telangana Thalli without the traditional Bathukamma insulted Telangana’s cultural identity.
According to her, Bathukamma symbolises the essence of Telangana culture and the spirit of the statehood struggle. Therefore, she argued that the Telangana Thalli statue should reflect that historical symbolism.
Kavitha alleged that leaders who played no role in the Telangana agitation were now attempting to rewrite the history of the movement. She said the people themselves shaped the image of Telangana Thalli holding Bathukamma during the statehood struggle.
Telangana Thalli statue controversy sparks political criticism
Kavitha said altering the Telangana Thalli symbolically erased the sacrifices and memories of the Telangana movement. She also warned that the depiction without Bathukamma would not be accepted by people who participated in the struggle.
She further declared that her party would restore the original Telangana Thalli once it returned to power. According to her, the statue representing the movement-era symbolism would be installed again at the same location.
At the same time, she said the statue installed by the Congress government would be shifted to the party’s office with respect.
Telangana Thalli statue remarks amid criticism over arrest
Kavitha also criticised the arrest of Visharadan Maharaj, president of the Dharma Samaj Party.
According to her, he had travelled to Velugumatla village in Khammam district to extend support to victims there. However, police arrested him during the visit.
Kavitha described the arrest as unlawful and condemned the police action. She alleged that authorities moved him between multiple police stations and subjected him to harassment.
Therefore, she demanded the immediate release of Visharadan Maharaj and urged authorities to withdraw the action taken against him.