Due to political criticism, the state government is preparing to release only the Telangana Anthem on June 2. It was decided to take a final decision in the assembly after further discussion on the state government's Official Emblem and Telangana Talli statue.
Political tensions have reached a boiling point in Telangana following the proposal of a new official emblem and state anthem by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. The unveiling of these symbols, scheduled for June 2 to commemorate the 10th Telangana Foundation Day, has sparked a flurry of debates and objections. Sonia Gandhi, the leader of the Congress party, has been extended an invitation to grace the occasion as the chief guest, adding further fuel to the political fire.
Govt Defers Unveiling of Emblem & Telangana Talli Statue:
Amid criticism from Opposition, the State government decided to postpone its plans to unveil the new emblem of the state government and also the statue of Telangana Talli (Mother Telangana), an official release from the chief minister’s office said.
The decision was taken at a meeting of representatives of different political parties chaired by chief minister. Notably, representatives of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen skipped the meeting. Initially, the state government had planned to unveil the new emblem, Telangana Talli statue and Telangana state anthem on June 2 as part of the Telangana formation day celebrations.
Revanth Reddy said his government had taken many initiatives as part of rebuilding of the state. With regard to the new Telangana emblem, the chief minister said the government had already received around 500 samples from artists. “All the designs are still under discussion and no design has been finalised yet,” Reddy said.
He said a final decision had also not been taken regarding the Telangana Talli statue. “The government will take a final decision on Telangana emblem and Telangana Talli statue only after discussion in the assembly. This would not give any scope to misconceptions and false propaganda,” he said, adding, “The government is preparing an action plan to uphold the Telangana prestige and inspire the future generations.”
Minor Repairs for Jaya Jayahe Telangana Song:
After the long discussions, Revanth Reddy approved the state anthem. After making corrections in the lyric and music tunes, the government was taken final decision. Finally “Jaya Jayahe Telangana..” has been repaired and approved. It would be released on June 2.
“There are two versions of the song – the complete version of the song is 13.30-minute-long and the shorter version is 2.30 minutes. The government is already making arrangements for marking the state formation day on a grand scale. The state song will be released during the celebrations,” Reddy added.
Controversy around Telangana State Anthem:
It's been around ten years since the state was formed. However, there is no official state song. Ahead of the Dashabdi celebrations, a song has been selected that was actively used during the state movement. Poet Ande Sri’s song Jaya Jaya He Telangana is selected as the state song. Oscar-winning composer MM Keeravani was selected to compose the tune. However, the Telangana sentiment was raised again with a section of people taking strong objection. Those who oppose this are asking how Keeravani, who is from Andhra Pradesh, can be selected when there are many composers from Telangana. Ex IPS officer RS Praveen Kumar who is with the BRS party strongly opposed this. He asked the CM to respect the sentiments of the Telangana people as he is in a responsible position.
BRS Demands Retention of Charminar in State Emblem:
The opposition BRS working president KT Rama Rao holds protests against the Congress government’s alleged move to remove Charminar and the ‘Kakatiya arch’ from the state emblem.
KT Rama Rao, who visited Charminar along with other party leaders, said Charminar is the identity of Hyderabad. On Telangana govt removing Kakatiya Arch and Charminar from the state’s official logo, KT Rama Rao says, "The decision of Telangana govt to remove Charminar and Kakatiya Arch from the state logo is the most foolish one... The rich cultural heritage and legacy of Telangana is something that we are all immensely proud of. This CM and government are clueless when it comes to protecting the heritage and culture... I demand the state govt to revoke this decision, rethink this..."
KTR emphasized that Kakatiya Kala Thoranam and Charminar should not be viewed as symbols of imperialism, but rather as representations of regional development, people's welfare, and the rich historical and archaeological significance of the area.
Why the Controversy over Emblem Design?:
According to an official release from the Chief Minister's Office, the new state emblem, meticulously crafted by renowned artist and retired faculty member of Jawaharlal Nehru College of Fine Arts and Architecture, Rudra Rajesh, symbolizes the struggles and sacrifices of Telangana. However, the emblem's exclusion of iconic landmarks such as the Kakatiya Thoranam of Warangal and Hyderabad's Charminar has stirred controversy.
However, the Chief Minister Revanth Reddy defended the decision, asserting that the official emblem should encapsulate the essence and spirit of Telangana, albeit to the chagrin of some opposition members. After the considering suggestions from the all party meeting, Chief Minister postpons government’s plan to unveil the State official emblem on June 2.
Government already taken a crucial decision over rebranding Telangana as TG, is a departure from the previous TS designation established by the KCR government.
Meanwhile, opposition party BRS has vehemently opposed this change citing concerns over the alteration of the state's name, symbol, song, and identity.
