BJP seeks CM's apology over changing of colours

Vijayawada: BJP AP affairs in-charge Sunil Deodhar criticised the state government for replacing national flag colours with YSRCP flag colours to panchayat buildings in various parts of the state.

He participated in Sardar Vallabhai Patel's birth anniversary celebrations here on Thursday. He took a strong exception to the attitude of the YSRCP government on changing of colours of the government buildings.

Deodhar said that the state government's behaviour was against the spirit of national integrity. He asked Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy to apologise to the people and take steps to repaint the buildings with the tricolours. The political issues are different but insulting the national symbols is unforgivable, he asserted.

The BJP national leader recalled that Sardar Vallabhai Patel strived hard for the unity of the country by merging hundreds of princely states, including Hyderabad in India. But the then Prime Minister the late Jawaharlal Nehru failed to fulfil the aspirations of people due to his faulty decisions, he added. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi solved the problems in Kashmir by scrapping the Article 370.

Stating that the nation had recognised the services of Sardar Vallabhai Patel he said his huge statue was testimonial and a sign of gratitude for his services. He suggested that political parties in Andhra Pradesh should honour the services of beloved leaders in history instead of indulging in selfish politics.

Rajya Sabha member Y Sujana Chowdary said that princely states were merged into the country owing to the relentless efforts of Patel. The Hyderabad state would have suffered like Jammu and Kashmir if Sardar Patel did not take initiative for its merger. The communal harmony is the greatness of Indian democracy, he said. Several local leaders were also present.