Hyderabad, March 31: The Telangana government has postponed its decision to unveil a new emblem by replacing the existing one which carries the images of historic Charminar and Kakatiya Kala Thoranam or Kakatiya arch.
After strong opposition from main opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the objection raised by its new friend All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), the Congress government dropped its plans to unveil the new emblem at state formation day celebrations on June 2 which will be attended by top Congress leader Sonia Gandhi.
Since the present emblem was designed by the previous BRS government, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy wanted to replace it with a new one. He argued that the two historic structures symbolize feudalism and autocratic rule and that the emblem should reflect the movement and sacrifices for the Telangana state.
However, the Congress government faced stiff resistance from BRS. On Thursday morning, BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao along with several party leaders reached Charminar to register their protest. The BRS leader said that dropping Charminar from the emblem would be an insult to the people of Hyderabad. He threatened to launch state-wide agitation.
Hours later, AIMIM led by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi also issued a statement demanding that Charminar must be retained in Telangana’s state emblem. “It is a symbol of Telangana’s long history of composite culture. It is hoped that the same will be retained,” the party said in a statement.
The AIMIM also urged the government to ensure that Charminar’s surrounding areas also see progress. “Development works pertaining to Hyderabad’s heritage have slowed down & they should be completed at the earliest. These works include the Charminar Pedestrianisation Project, road widening works, night bazaar, parking lot at Charminar bus stand, renovation of sardar mahal & chowk market and the road widening near Gulzar Hauz.”
Following these developments, Revanth Reddy deferred the decision on a new emblem. At the meeting with ministers, leaders of Congress and its allies CPI, CPI-M and TJS, he only approved the new state anthem.
On the new emblem, he said that a decision will be taken after taking the opinion of all and a discussion in the Assembly.
Revanth Reddy describing Charminar and Kakatiya arch as symbols of imperialism has not gone down well with many.
BRS leaders staged protests at Kakatiya arch in Warangal and also at Charminar.
“World over, Charminar has been the icon/symbol of Hyderabad for centuries. When one thinks of Hyderabad, they cannot but think of Charminar which has all the qualities of a UNESCO world heritage site. Now Congress Government wants to remove the iconic Charminar from the state Logo citing frivolous reasons. What a shame,” Rama Rao posted on ‘X’ before a visit to Charminar.
KTR said while Hyderabad is the beauty of Telangana, Charminar is Hyderabad’s identity. “Charminar is famous all over the world. Hyderabad and Charminar are inseparable,” he said.
He alleged that by removing Charminar and Kakatiya arch (Kakatiya Kala Thoranam), the Congress government is hurting the self-respect of people of Telangana.
The BRS leader said that if the government goes ahead with the decision to remove them from the emblem, their party would stage protests in Hyderabad and across the state.
He recalled that when Hyderabad completed 400, the then Congress government had organised the celebrations with the image of Charminar. “How was it acceptable to the Congress government then,” he asked while finding fault with Revanth Reddy’s remarks that Hyderabad along with Kakatiya arch symbolise autocracy of past rulers.
“Kakatiya Kala Thoranam and Charminar are not the signs of imperialism. They are symbols of development, people’s welfare and historical and archaeological significance of the region,” said senior BRS leader Vinod Kumar, who led the protest at Kakatiya arch.
The BRS leader also accused Revanth Reddy of trying to destroy the history of Telangana, saying he was a strong votary of the combined state. “He never raised the Jai Telangana slogan either during the statehood movement or after the state formation,” the BRS leader said.
When Telangana state was formed in 2014, the BRS government adopted the present emblem depicting Kakatiya Kala Thoranam and Charminar, the symbols of Kakatiya and Qutb Shahi dynasties.
