Tamilisai says not invited to Ambedkar statue inauguration

HYDERABAD: “Dr B.R. Ambedkar spoke more about women’s empowerment. But there was no invitation for the woman Governor. I felt very bad.” This was Telangana Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan on Saturday reacting to not being invited by the state government for the inauguration of the 125-foot Ambedkar statue in Hyderabad on Friday, Ambedkar’s 132nd birth anniversary.

The statue, erected next to the new Secretariat complex by Hussainsagar in the heart of the city, was inaugurated by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao amidst much fanfare.

In a brief chat with reporters at the Raj Bhavan at a book release function on Saturday, the Governor said “I would have participated in the function for the great personality. Ambedkar is not only the father of our Constitution but he also spoke more about women’s empowerment.”

She added, “I paid my tributes to Dr Ambedkar. But there was no invitation for the woman Governor. I also felt very bad.”

Relations between the Raj Bhavan, and the state government have been rocky for the past couple of years with the Raj Bhavan maintaining that the government has been repeatedly insulting the Governor at every available opportunity, while the ruling BRS party leaders have been claiming that the Governor was at fault, and acts like an agent of the BJP party at every available opportunity.