Date:12/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/12/stories/2008071254460600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Devendra Goud’s outfit is Nava Telangana Praja Party

Special Correspondent

Flag with a map of Telangana region unveiled

Priority to people across the region
Justice was denied to the region, says Goud

HYDERABAD: Former Telugu Desam leader T. Devender Goud on Friday christened his outfit as Nava Telangana Praja Party (NTPP) and unveiled the flag that has the map of Telangana region in brown against a turquoise blue backdrop.

Turqoise blue symbolising Indian roller (Pala Pitta) represented Telangana’s socio-ethnic cultural identity and pride of the people of the region, Mr. Goud explained. Blue also stood for abundant availability of water resource in the region with Godavari and Krishna rivers flowing across Telangana. The brown of the region’s map depicted soil craving for its legitimate share of water denied by the colonisers, he said. Within the map, plough and shovel represented toiling farmers and working class respectively, the book at the centre standing for knowledge and wisdom and the torch for illumination of minds and building political consciousness for a new people’s Telangana.

He told media persons later that the new party’s first priority was reaching out to the people across the region and raising their awareness about the injustice heaped on them for the past five decades. Successive governments did precious little to render justice and assuage the feelings of the people.

To questions, he said he would come out with the party’s stand on various issues at a public meeting to be held at Nizam College Grounds on August 27. Making it clear that he was not considering political alliances right now, he refused to be drawn into a debate on whether he would join hands with film actor Chiranjeevi’s proposed party.