Hyderabad, January 31 (INN): Condemning the desecration of Dr B R Ambedkar’s statues at Amalapuram in East Godavari district, Minister for Rural Development D Manikya Vara Prasad said here on Monday that the government would draft modalities for establishing statues of national leaders at prominent places soon.
He was talking to media persons after attending a meeting of SC/ST Ministers, MLAs and MLCs held at in the chambers of Minister for Primary Education S Sailajanath at Assembly premises.
Mr Manikya Vara Prasad said the meeting unanimously decided to draft rules and regulations for installation of statues.
Expressing concern over the growing culture of installing statues in the state, he said that people were even ready to install statues of ‘rowdies and factionist leaders’ statues in some areas. “The problem cropped up mainly due to lack of adequate policy on statues in the state. Statues can be installed 25 years after the leaders’ death recalling their services to the community, state or nation”, he added.
Major Industries Minister J Geetha Reddy said that the meeting would appeal to Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to install bronze statues in Amalapuram where Dr Ambedkar’s statues were desecrated. She wanted non-bailable cases to be booked against perpetrators of these heinous acts.
She said the meeting would request Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy to spend a major share of funds for SC/ST welfare without diverting funds reserved for them. She said the meeting would appeal to the party to take steps for protecting SC/ST vote bank in the state.
Minister for Primary Education S Sailajanath called upon all parties to respond to this issue and urged government to take steps so that such acts were not repeated in future.
Minister for Animal Husbandry Vishwaroop, Government whip Kondru Murali Mohan, MLAs and MLCs also attended the meeting. (INN)