The Indian National Congress (INC,) on the 4th of July, alleged, the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) will soon demolish the Rajiv Gandhi memorial, Rajiv Gandhi Smruthi Bhavan, in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP.)
The Rajiv Smruthi Bhavan was constructed in 2008 as a memorial for late Rajiv Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India. The Rajiv Smruthi Bhavan is a memorial and cultural centre at the Beach Road in Visakhapatnam. It is said, before Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, Rajiv Gandhi had spent a day in Visakhapatnam.
The INC leaders said, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, will soon order the demolition process of the memorial.
The allegations of the INC members in the State came after Jagan Mohan Reddy ordered the demolition of the Praja Vedika building, which was said to be an illegal construction. Jagan Mohan Reddy also ordered, a notice be issued to Chandrababu Naidu, the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, to vacate his house, which is also an illegal construction.
The YSRCP Government, in order to maintain a transparent and corruption free State and Government, initiated the demolition of all the illegal constructions in the State.
The INC leader said, Jagan Mohan Reddy is targeting all his opposition parties by using his power against them.
Hanumanth Rao, a senior leader of the INC said, “The new Government headed by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is playing vindictive politics to finish the opposition in Andhra Pradesh.” He further added, “He (Jagan Mohan Reddy) was given the mandate to do welfare. What is this demolition of Praja Vedhika, party offices and now Rajiv Smruthi Bhavan? During his father’s (late YS Rajasekhara Reddy) tenure as chief minister, I spent my MPLAD fund to keep the memorial alive. What he [Jaganmohan Reddy] is doing now is baffling.”
Hanumanth Rao also threatened Mr. Reddy, saying, to demolish the Rajiv Gandhi memorial, Reddy would first have to kill Hanumanth. Hanumanth said, “I warn him that he has to first kill me only then will he be able to demolish the Rajiv Gandhi’s memorial. Rajiv jee loved Andhra Pradesh, its people, including Jaganmohan Reddy’s father Y.S. Rajasehkara Reddy.”
The allegations against Jagan Mohan Reddy were based on legal documents collected by India Today TV, which stated, “The State Government has floated a tender for removal of roofing sheets, trusses (the structure that supports the roof), structural glazing glasses and false ceiling of Rajiv Smruthi Bhavan in Vishakhapatnam.”
The last date for submitting a bid is the 4th of July and the estimated cost of the project is Rs. 8.47 lakhs.
However, the local administration of the YSRCP denied the allegations and said, they did not plan to demolish the memorial.
G. Srujana, the Commissioner of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC,) said, “The Government is in the process of expanding the Naval Museum which houses a submarine and a TU-142 aircraft. The government has procured a Sea Harrier plane as part of the integrated Naval Museum and Tourism Complex. The plane will be placed at the Rajiv Smruthi Bhavan.”
The Municipal Corporation, as per the orders of Jagan Mohan Reddy, the YSRCP President, started cracking down all the illegal and unauthorised constructions in Visakhapatnam and Andhra Pradesh.
Stay tuned for further updates.
