Rama Krishna Sangem
CM KCR has decided to name new Secretariat of Telangana after Dr BR Ambedkar. This is a move with historical and political significance. Historical in the sense that the naming of an important building that is the seat of administration of Telangana state, comes at a time when India is celebrating its 76th anniversary of Independence. KCR issued orders to Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar on September 15.
Telangana, major part of Hyderabad state ruled by erstwhile Nizams, is also celebrating its 75th anniversary of Integration with Indian Union on September 17, 1948. KCR has decided to observe this historical occasion as Integration while opposition BJP is calling it Liberation, in the sense it is liberated from the 7th Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan. The new secretariat is built at a cost of around Rs 500 crore, on the same premises of old one.
By naming the new secretariat which will be ready in another few months, after Dr Ambedkar, the CM has brought into focus the Constitutionalism, while BJP is invoking the image of then Union Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to mark the occasion. This way, KCR is expected to win the support of all liberals, Dalits and centrist forces, while BJP is seeking to mobilise majority Hindutwa forces.
Interestingly, only a few days ago Telangana Assembly passed a resolution urging the Centre to name the new Parliament building in Delhi after Dr Ambedkar. In a counter to this resolution the local BJP leaders have challenged KCR to name the new secretariat after Ambedkar, if he has political will for it. Accepting the challenge, KCR did it, putting the BJP leaders in an embarrassing situation.
Political significance is this move comes at a time when KCR wants to mobilise opposition parties at the national level to prevent BJP from securing full majority in next LS elections in 2024. Dr Ambedkar has become a rallying point for all those who stand by the Constitution and its core philosophy of secularism and federalism. BJP may not dislike Ambedkar, but it is silent on the issues of secularism and federalism.
KCR’s decision to name new secretariat after Ambedkar is hailed by wider section of public. All the ministers, most of the MPs, MLAs and MLCs commended the CM for this move. MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha thanked her father CM KCR for this initiative and expressed hope that the Centre too would name the new Parliament complex after Ambedar. KCR will soon be writing to PM Modi urging him to name the new Parliament Building after Dr Ambedkar.
