K Kavitha, leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), has sharply criticized the Congress government in Telangana for altering the iconic Telangana Talli statue. Kavitha accused the Congress of undermining the state’s traditions, festivals, and cultural identity, particularly in its redesign of the statue which, she claims, removed the symbol of Bathukamma – a floral arrangement representing Telangana’s cultural identity – and replaced it with the Congress party’s hand symbol.
The controversy erupted after Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy unveiled the redesigned statue on December 9, during the first anniversary of his government. The new statue, which Reddy described as an embodiment of Telangana’s self-respect and existence, features the mythical Telugu Talli with one hand raised in a gesture of prosperity and the other holding traditional crops like paddy, millet, and maize.
Kavitha, who is also the founder of Telangana Jagruthi, questioned Congress leadership, particularly Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, asking whether they endorsed the redesign of the statue. She alleged that by removing Bathukamma from the statue, the Congress government was disrespecting the culture and heritage of Telangana. “This will be remembered as the Congress Maata statue by the people of Telangana,” she said, asserting that the original Telangana Talli would continue to inspire future generations across villages, notebooks, and calendars.
The BRS leader also accused Chief Minister Reddy of lacking any connection to the Telangana movement, calling him a leader who “never stood with the movement” and claimed his government was eroding the state’s traditions. Kavitha further stressed that the Congress government’s actions were an affront to the cultural and spiritual values of the region.
Kavitha also expressed outrage over recent remarks made by a Congress MLA, who allegedly insulted the Bathukamma festival and people from the OBC and Dalit communities. The MLA’s statement, which implied that these communities do not participate in Bathukamma, has sparked anger. Kavitha demanded an apology from the Congress for the alleged disrespect towards women of OBC and Dalit communities.
Kavitha’s criticism was echoed by BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR), who stated that the Congress government’s new statue was an affront not only to the state’s cultural heritage but also to the sentiments of the people of Telangana. He argued that the redesign had hurt the pride and prosperity tied to the region’s traditions.
In response, Kavitha reiterated her commitment to ensuring that the original Telangana Talli statue, with its cultural significance intact, would be installed in every village across the state. She warned the Congress party that the people of Telangana would not forgive what she called an attack on their heritage and cultural identity.
As tensions continue to rise, the controversy over the Telangana Talli statue has become a significant point of political and cultural debate in the state.
