Govt wants former Prez, Narasimha Rao's statues in Par

The state government will request Lok Sabha Speaker to install statues of former President Neelam Sanjiva Reddy and ex-Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao in Parliament. "We will soon write to Lok Sabha Speaker with a request to install statues of Neelam Sanjiva Reddy and P V Narasimha Rao in Parliament," Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said.

He was speaking after inaugurating the centenary birth anniversary celebrations of Neelam Sanjiva Reddy at Ravindra Bharathi in Hyderabad.

Remembering the contributions of the former President to the nation, the Chief Minister said, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was a great visionary and every politician should take inspiration from his life. The state government will rename the government medical college in Anantapur district and the proposed Andhra Pradesh Revenue Academy after Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, he announced. AP Governor ESL Narasimhan, in his address said Neelam Sanjiva Reddy's life was a great lesson for both ordinary people and politicians.

On the occasion, Union Minister of State for Communication and Technology Killi Kruparani, released a postal stamp cover in honour of Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, who was AP's first chief minister. The event also saw release of books in his memory.

Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Panabaka Lakshmi was also present among other dignitaries. The centenary celebrations, which got underway today, will be held at all Collectorates across Andhra Pradesh till November this year and the valedictory function will be held on November 1 in Anantapur.