Gudavalli, March 29: Chief Minister K Rosaiah described former deputy chief minister Koneru Ranga Rao as Messiah of Dalits saying that the latter had done great service to the community.
Garlanding the portrait of the late Minister Koneru Ranga Rao, the Chief Minister conveyed his deep condolences to Rao’s family. “It’s a big loss to the State, Congress party and to me personally,” he added.
Recalling his association with the departed leader, the Chief Minister said that they had together served as Ministers under three chief ministers–Chenna Reddy, Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy and Janardhan Reddy. “He used to be very affectionate towards me and it was great experience working with him,” he said.
Appreciating his services for the Congress and State Government, Rosaiah said that Koneru had his page reserved in the history of the Congress as he had done great deal of work during his stint as a Minster.
“He was also very much affectionate towards his village, its people as he used to visit the village frequently,” Rosaiah observed.
All the public representatives who participated in the condolence meeting of Koneru Ranga Rao urged Chief Minster K Rosaiah to implement the recommendations of Koneru Ranga Rao committee on land distribution to the poor.
They opined that it was the only a way to pay fitting tribute to the great leader.
They observed that the committee’s recommendations were in favour of poor and downtrodden in the State and the Government should give utmost priority to implementation of the recommendations.
Taking their views into consideration, the chief minister promised that he would discuss the matter with officials concerned and public representatives over the feasibility of implementing the recommendations.
Responding to the pleas of party leaders to construct a memorial to the departed leader in Vijayawaada, Rosaiah said that he would discuss the matter with the district public representatives and take steps in this regard.
Union Minister of State for Railways, K H Muniyappa expressed his deep condolence to the Rao’s family.
Former Chief Minister Nedurumalli Janardhan Reddy, Ministers–P Ramachandra Reddy, Kolusu Parthasarathy, Legislative Council deputy chairman Mohammad Jani, MPs–VH Hanumantha Rao, Lagadapati Rajagopal, Manda Jagannadham and YS Jaganmohan Reddy, former ministers– Pinnamaneni Venkateshwar Rao and Devineni Rajashekar, MLAs–Malladi Vishnu, Jogi Ramesh Madiga and Ambati Rambabu, MRPS founder president Manda Krishna Madiga, CPM leader Nomula Narsimhaiah, MLCs–P Sudhakar Reddy, Ilapuram Venkaiah, Nanapaneni Rajakumari and Jeelli Wilson, TRS leader and former MLA of Vikarabad A Chandrashekar were among those who expressed their condolences to Rao’s family.
–Agencies