Date:16/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/16/stories/2007081655030600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Alluri statue re-installed at Naaz Centre

Staff Reporter

Renaming of Dinosaur Park as Swaraj Maidan demanded

GUNTUR: Badly damaged statue of Alluri Seetharama Raju, who fought the British during freedom struggle, was re-installed by Avagahana and a group of citizens led by former MP Yelamanchili Sivaji at Naaz Centre on ocassion of Independence Day celebrations.

“On the 60th anniversary of Indian Independence it is a shame that Alluri’s statue is lying in a dilapidated condition at Adavi Thakkelapadu.

New Statues demanded

We retrieved it and gave it a cleaning treatment and re-installed it on the traffic island at Naaz Centre,” said Dr. Sivaji.

Avagahana represented by Konda Sivarama Reddy demanded re-installation of a new statue of Alluri and a new statue of Nadimpalli V. Narasimha Panthulu at the Naaz centre.

Nadimpalli played a key role in setting up of Hindu College and as Municipal Chairperson had honoured Motilal Nehru before hoisting a national flag prior to Independence.

Historical significance

Gandhi Park now also known as Dinosaur Park was the place where some great freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, Moulana Abul Kalam Azad, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose addressed the people of Guntur.

The park should be converted into a place that could inspire the future generations to take learn the ideals of freedom fighters, who visited this city and motivated people to fight for the cause of freedom.

Other visitors to the city included former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi also.

They demanded the park to be named as Swaraj Maidan again.