Rama Krishna Sangem
Governor Dr Tamilisai Sounderarajan said former union minister late G Venkataswamy, popularly known as Kaka was a Bhishma of Telangana politics. She paid tributes to the veteran leader on his 9th death anniversary at a meeting held at Dr BR Ambedkar Educational institutions at Bagh Lingampalli in Hyderabad on December 22, Thursday. The institutions were started by Kaka 50 years ago.
BJP national executive member and former MP Vivek Venkataswamy and his elder brother G Vinod who is also secretary of the institutions and Vivek’s wife Saroja Vivekanand, who is the correspondent of the institutions and BJP national leader Muralidhar Rao were among those present on the occasion. Staff, students and alumni members too came to join the meeting.
Tamilisai recalled how Kaka started these educational institutions to perpetuate the ideals of Dr Ambedkar at a time when private educational institutions have become almost a business. “Kaka hasn’t started these institutions for donations, when others were only interested in money,” said the Governor, of Telangana and Puducherry. The colleges started by Kaka have rolled out thousands of brilliant students over the years.
Kaka important in Telangana movement
Muralidhar Rao recalled the crucial role played by Kaka in Telangana separate statement movement right from 1969. “He was not just a tall leader in national politics, but played a significant role in Telangana movement,” said Rao, former general secretary of BJP. In fact, Kaka was important for persuading Sonia Gandhi to go with an alliance in 2004 and acceded to Telangana state formation later.
Saroja Vivekanand said Kaka had showed enormous interest in the day to day running of the educational institutions. “That showed his commitment to the education. We are trying to secure Deemed to be University status to the Ambedkar group of institutions,” said she. Vivek Venkataswamy said his father had deeper commitment to the uplift of poor and downtrodden.
Former MLAs Yennam Srinivas Reddy, Chintala Ramachandra Reddy, Kaka’s grand children Vamshi Krishna, who is also joint MD of Visaka group of industries, Vaishnavi and Venkat too participated in various events held on the occasion. A photo exhibition on the life and times of Kaka too was organised.