KTR Criticizes Congress-Led Telangana Government’s Emblem Change Decision

Telangana Government

Bharat Rashtra Samithi’s (BRS) working president, K T Rama Rao (KTR), launched a scathing critique against the Congress-led state government’s recent move to replace Telangana’s state emblem with a new design. The remarks were made during a speech on Saturday, February 10th, where KTR expressed strong opposition to the decision.

“They (Congress) changed TS to TG and are calling it maarpu (change). They now do not want Charminar and Kakatiya Kala Thoranam in the official logo of Telangana because according to them, they represent aristocratic tendencies….Anybody who visits the state from anywhere across the world goes to Charminar. Charminar represents Hyderabad….”, KTR remarked, highlighting the significance of these iconic symbols to the cultural identity of Telangana.

KTR further questioned the irony in the government’s actions, pointing out that the state song chosen by the Revanth-led administration, ‘Jaya Jaya He Telangana’, glorifies historical sites like Golconda Fort and celebrates the Kakatiya dynasty, which stands in contrast to the government’s decision to remove symbols associated with the same heritage from the official emblem.

This criticism from KTR comes a day after Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy reiterated his cabinet’s decision to proceed with changing the existing official emblem of Telangana. The decision, part of a series of changes including altering vehicle registration numbers and modifying the features of Telangana Talli, has stirred controversy within the state.

Explaining the rationale behind the emblem change, a statement from the government cited the need to shed symbols associated with past rulers’ aristocracy and dictatorship. The current emblem, designed by painter Laxman Aelay and adopted on June 2, 2014, incorporates elements from the Kakatiya and Qutb Shahi dynasties, representing Telangana’s cultural and historical heritage.

The emblem features a circular seal consisting of the Kakatiya Kala Thoranam and Charminar, alongside the three lions emblematic of the state emblem of India. It also includes the words “Government of Telangana” in English, “Telangana Prabhutvamu” in Telugu, “Telangana Sarkar” in Urdu, and “Satyameva Jayate” in Sanskrit.

The decision to change such a significant symbol has sparked debates about preserving cultural identity and historical continuity within Telangana. While proponents argue for a modernized representation, critics, including KTR, express concerns over erasing symbols deeply ingrained in the state’s identity and heritage.

As the debate intensifies, it remains to be seen how the government will address the growing opposition and whether it will reconsider its decision in light of the criticism voiced by KTR and others.

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