Naidu demands Bharat Ratna for NTR

Recalling the services of party founder N T Rama Rao to Telugu people, Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday demanded that the Centre bestow the Bharat Ratna, the highest Civilian Award of the country, to the former chief minister for his contributions to the state, particularly film industry. The TDP president also called upon party rank and file to follow his footsteps to come up in life.

Talking to media persons at NTR Ghat after paying rich floral tributes to the founder of the Telugu Desam party on the occasion of his 15th death anniversary, Mr Naidu said NTR had created a new wave in the politics of state with his commitment to work towards uplifting backward and poor people. Mr Naidu arrived at the NTRS Ghats with his wife Bhuvaneshwari Devi and son Lokesh Naidu

Remembering his services to film industry, Naidu said “No one can forget his services to Telugu cinema industry and his life history is a role model and inspiration to future generations.” Mr Naidu also urged the state government to rename the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad as NTR International Airport.

Earlier, the TDP president flagged off Amar Jyothi after paying floral tributes at the NTR Statue at Rasoolpura Crossroads. Speaking on the occasion, NTR’s son Nandamuri Harikrishna called upon party workers to work for fulfilling the late leader’s dreams.

Mr Harikrishna also charged the Congress government of has mortgaging the Telugu people’s pride and alleged that suicides of farmers have increased during its stint in power.

Actors Kalyan Ram, Ramakrishna and Jayakrishna were also present, apart from senior TDP leaders Devender Goud, Vijaya Ramarao, T Srinivas Yadav, Nannapuneni Rajakumari.

Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development d D Purandareswari and her husband D Venkateswar Rao also paid tributes to NTR and recalled his services to the nation. She said that her father’s ideals of discipline and commitment to work were followed by her and have made her come up in life. After paying rich floral tributes, NTR’s widow Lakshmi Parvathi blamed TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu for his death.