Hyderabad, October 22: Stating that legendary Gond leader Komaram Bheem was a great warrior who relentlessly fought despotic Nizams for the rights of Girijans, the State BJP president, Mr G Kishan Reddy, has called upon the Rosaiah government to include his biography in the school curriculum in order to educate the future citizens about his struggle for the welfare of tribals.
On the occasion of 70th death anniversary of Komaram Bheem on Friday, Mr Kishen Reddy garlanded the legendary leader’s statue and paid rich tributes.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Reddy recalled that the Gond leader of Adilabad district brought about unity among tribals and waged a prolonged struggle against the despotic Nizam’s rule for achievement of rights of girijans.
Mr Kishen Reddy recalled that the great leader had proclaimed that “Jal, Jungle and Zameen” (water, forest and land) belonged to tribals and there was no question of paying taxes to the Nizams.
Komaram Bheem fought the dictatorial Nizam rule like the great freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju who dared the then British Raj and faced bullets, he said, adding that the absence of Komaram Bheem’s role in freedom struggle in the curriculum was deplorable. Even now, the government should realize its folly and include Komaram Bheem’s biography in the curriculum, he added.
Mr Kishen Reddy said that though the government had decided to install an idol of Komaram Bheem in the State capital, but did not evince interest in doing so.
Similarly, the former chief minister and the Telugu Desam party president, Mr Chandrababu Naidu, did not agree for installation of Komaram Bheem statue. The State BJP president also demanded that the Congress and Telugu Desam parties explain the reasons as to why the great patriot’s statue should not be installed.
He also pointed out that the government was forced to enact 1/70 Act due to his struggle, but both the State and Central governments failed to implement the Act in letter and spirit.
Recalling the struggle of the great tribal leader, the senior BJP leader and former Union minister, Mr Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, lamented that though the government issued a GO for installation of his statue, it miserably failed to erect the same in the State capital.
He also demanded that the government immediately install Komaram Bheem statue on Tank Bund and conduct celebrations officially; otherwise, the BJP would remove unnecessary statues on the Tank Bund and erect Komaram Bheem’s in its place, he warned, adding that they were ready for any sacrifice for statue installation.
The BJP national secretary, Dr K Lakshman, State party general secretary, Mr N Ramchander Rao, M Chinta Sambamurthy, the official spokesperson, Mr N V S S Prabhakar, were also present. (NSS)