Fri Dec 06 21:11:18 UTC 2024: ## New Telangana Talli Statue Unveiling Sparks Political Row
**Hyderabad, December 6, 2024** – The unveiling of a new statue of Telangana Talli (Mother Telangana) on December 9th has ignited a fierce political debate in Telangana. The ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the opposition Congress are locked in a war of words over the design changes.
The Congress criticizes the previous statue’s portrayal as resembling a “landlord woman,” while the BRS accuses the Congress of a conspiracy to erase Chief Minister KCR’s legacy by altering the statue’s appearance. The Congress counters that the new statue depicts a more “ordinary woman,” a claim the BRS dismisses, questioning the implications of portraying Telangana Talli as a wealthy woman.
The new statue, set to be unveiled in a few days, features significant design differences compared to its predecessor. While the old statue depicted Telangana Talli in a richly embellished zari-bordered saree, a crown, and holding a Bathukamma (a flower arrangement), the new statue shows her in a simpler green saree with yellow-green borders, without a crown or Bathukamma. Other changes include replacing gold bangles with clay ones, simplifying the jewelry (a single necklace replaces elaborate ornaments and a silver throne), and altering the hand gestures (an abhaya hasta mudra replaces the previous pose holding items like corn cobs and Bathukamma). The new statue’s left hand now holds grains of rice, jowar, and saji instead of Bathukamma.
The BJP has also weighed in, stating that changing the statue’s design with every change in government is inappropriate. This controversy follows a recent debate over the Telangana state anthem.
The stark visual differences between the old and new statues are undeniable, fueling the ongoing political firestorm.
First Piper 