CM fails to show up at airport to receive Modi; BJP raps KCR
The relationship between Prime Minister Modi and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao hit an all-time time low on Saturday.
KCR didn’t visit Hyderabad airport for extending a customary welcome to the Prime Minister when he landed there. He also skipped prescheduled events with Modi, including the inauguration of the 216-feet tall “Statue of Equality” by Modi commemorating the 11th-century Bhakti Saint Sri Ramanujacharya.
The absence of the CM at the airport provoked the saffron party which said Rao failed to follow the protocol and “insulted the Prime Minister”.
Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy and Telangana Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav received Modi at the airport. Sources at Pragati Bhavan, Rao’s official residence said the CM was not well as he “is suffering from fever”.
Telangana BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar took strong exception to Rao’s absence at the airport, saying it was “shameful” on the part of the CM for playing truant to Modi’s trip by citing lame excuses.
“KCR, is this your culture? You claim to have read 80,000 books. Is it what you have learned from them?” he asked.
The CM had earlier remarked that Modi “dresses for elections” and “ his Budget exemplifies style but no substance”.
Inaugurating the statue of the 11th century Saint Ramanujacharya, Modi said the revered saint worked for the equality of all and worked for dalits and those exploited in society.
Ramanujacharya (1017–1137 AD) was an philosopher, Hindu theologian, social reformer, and one of the most important exponents of the Vaishnavism tradition within Hinduism.
The PM said “ours is a country where dualism can coexist with non-dualism” and referred to Ramanujacharya’s “ativishistwad” which he said is “all inspiring to all of us”.
Modi said, “The Statue of Equality will inspire many future generations and would remind us of his values.” He said Ramanujacharya taught that “ all kinds of lives are equal” and “lived through Vedanta Sutra”.
Modi said though born in the South, Ramanujacharya was respected by all great saints across the country. If he wrote in Sanskrit, he wrote in Tamil too, he said.
Ramanujacharya, the PM said is “an inspiration for India’s unity”. While launching the statue of Equality, Modi recalled “statue of unity of Sardar Ballabhbhai Patel in Gujarat and his historical role in “Bhavyanagar” or “Hyderabad”.
“Today Ramanujacharya ji is giving us the message of equality in the form of a huge Statue of Equality,” said the PM.
The statue is made of “panchaloha”, a combination of five metals: gold, silver, copper, brass, and zinc and is among one of the tallest metallic statues in sitting position, in the world.
It is mounted on a 54-feet high base building, named “Bhadra Vedi”, has floors devoted for a Vedic digital library and research centre, ancient Indian texts, a theatre, an educational gallery detailing many works of Ramanujacharya.
The statue - among the world’s tallest - has been conceptualised by Chinna Jeeyar Swami of Ramanujacharya Ashram. Around the venue, the PM visited the recreations of 108 Divya Desams (ornately carved temples) that surround the Statue of Equality. A 3D projection performance on the life journey and teaching of Ramanujacharya is also showcased there.