Decode Politics: Why Congress, BRS are at loggerheads over Telangana anthem, state emblem

As Telangana celebrates its 10th formation day on Sunday, the political temperatures in the state are heating up with the ruling Congress and the Opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) at loggerheads over the state anthem and emblem. What is the controversy and why is there opposition to the changes?

Since storming to power in last year’s Assembly elections, the Congress has changed the state’s abbreviation from “TS” to “TG”, the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) to TGSRTC and renamed the Pragati Bhavan to Jyotiba Phule Praja Bhavan.

Last week, the Revanth Reddy government said the previous state emblem reflected historical dynasties and it was being changed to reflect the struggles for statehood, thereby replacing the iconic Charminar and Kakatiya Kala Thoranam (Kakatiya art arch) with the Telangana Martyrs’ Memorial.

“The BRS should explain to the people of Telangana why it does not want the martyrs’ memorial on the emblem. Does it not remember the voices rendered to the state anthem?” asked Congress MLC B Mahesh Goud.

The Telangana government also roped in artists Rudra Rajesham and Venkata Ramana Reddy to implement the changes with Reddy finalising them last week.

The BRS, which lost power for the first time in last year’s Assembly polls, has accused the Reddy government of trying to erase his predecessor K Chandrashekar Rao’s contribution and legacy from the state. “Revanth Reddy did not take part in the Telangana movement. He wants to change the emblem just because it was chosen by BRS president and then CM KCR (as Chandrashekar Rao is popularly known),” said former Telangana minister K T Rama Rao.

He also said Charminar and Hyderabad were inseparable and alleged that Reddy was taking such decisions in