Restore YSR portrait in Assembly: YSRCP

Taking strong objection to the convening of the General Purpose Meeting for ratifying the decision of removing the portrait from the assembly lounge, YSR Congress Party has demanded that the Speaker and the TDP Government restore the portrait.

“The meeting was convened at a time when our party was scheduled to hold a dharna at New Delhi seeking special status for the state. Also, the number of members from our party included in the Committee is not in proportion to our strength in the Assembly,’ Party MLA G Srikanth Reddy told reporters on Tuesday.

The decision to remove the portrait is undemocratic and is a provocative act aimed at evading the discussion on public issues in the ensuing assembly session as they expect that the proceedings would be disrupted and this issue would dominate the session.

“It is unfair on part of the TDP to remove the portrait as YSR was the only Chief Minster to die while in. Former Lok Sabha Speaker GMC Balayogi, who also died while in office, was adequately honored by giving his name to the library. NTR portrait is placed in the Parliament, though he was never a member of either of the houses. It is only a matter giving respect to the departed souls and the Speaker should take initiative and reverse the decision and restore the portrait,” he said.