The Andhra people leader, Potti Sriramulu, was instrumental in the establishment of linguistic states. Pawan Kalyan
Vijayawada: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan was the driving force behind the creation of Andhra Pradesh and other linguistic states. He paid respect to Indian social crusader Potti Sriramulu on Sunday.
According to a press release, he said that Potti Sriramulu was the head of the whole Andhra population, not just one particular caste or tribe.
The Andhra Pradesh government held the ‘Amarajeevi Potti Sriramulu Sacrifice Day’ ceremony in Tummalapalli Kalakshetram on Sunday morning in remembrance of Potti Sriramulu’s sacrifice.
“We are all eternally inspired by Amarajeevi Potti Sriramulu, who went on a hunger strike till the end to demand the creation of an independent Andhra State. He was the impetus behind India’s linguistic states’ creation. “He was the leader of the entire Andhra community, not just one community or caste,” Kalyan said.
He emphasized that it is everyone’s duty to honor great leaders who have given their lives for the nation, like him. He said, “Achieving comprehensive development across all sectors and transforming Andhra Pradesh into a $2.2 trillion economy would be the true tribute to Potti Sriramulu.”
The portraits of Potti Sriramulu and India’s first Deputy Prime Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, were decorated with flowers by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.
They also presented a video on Potti Sriramulu’s life and published a book that highlighted his sacrifice.
“We must plan events like the birth and death anniversaries of great personalities to remember their sacrifices,” Pawan Kalyan said during the ceremony. This makes their efforts easier for future generations to comprehend. Although it’s normal to forget, such incidents serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made by great leaders.
He remembered, “Potti Sriramulu suffered much and went on a hunger strike till he died in order to create a distinct Andhra State. He lived for the country, the state, and society rather than for himself. Only when the state was established did his grandeur become apparent.
He said, “It’s difficult to even locate a statue of Potti Sriramulu outside of the Arya Vysya group. He is a leader that the whole country is proud of, not just of a certain caste or group.
Pawan Kalyan thought, “Prime Minister Nehru’s national leadership resisted the creation of linguistic states, even though India was split along religious lines. But for the Telugu people’s identity and self-respect, Potti Sriramulu embarked on a death-defying hunger strike. His sacrifice eventually resulted in the creation of Andhra State, and his battle rocked the country. Even finding someone to transport his corpse became difficult after his death. Legendary musician Ghantasala carried his mortal remains with a few others.
Because of his sacrifice, we are happy to call ourselves Andhras today. Our existence as Telugu people is based on his heritage,” he said. “Potti Sriramulu’s sacrifice is the foundation of our state. He sacrificed his life to protect the Telugu people’s identity. We can only become great leaders like him if we put aside our regional, familial, and personal interests.
“While Potti Sriramulu envisioned an independent Andhra State, Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao fought for the dignity of the Telugu people,” he said. Creating government policy for 50 million people is even more difficult than running a political party. Nara Chandrababu Naidu, the chief minister, has effectively run the state and lowered the level of government.
The ‘Vision 2047’ paper, which was painstakingly developed with participation from several intellectuals, was praised by the Deputy CM. He said, “Vision 2047 transcends caste and religion, ensuring opportunities for all based on merit.”
State ministers P. Narayana, Achchennaidu, and Parthasarathy, as well as MPs, MLAs, and top officials, attended the ceremony.
