Marketing of Andhra Products Affected by West Asia War: Naidu

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu stated here on Monday that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is impacting the marketing of products manufactured within the state; however, he also noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking steps to mitigate these challenges. Addressing a public gathering after unveiling a statue of Potti Sreeramulu in the new greenfield capital city of Amaravati, Naidu said, “Due to the war, difficulties are arising in the marketing of various products from the state. Nevertheless, PM Modi is taking measures to shield the country from the adverse effects of the conflict.” Calling for collective efforts during these difficult times, the TDP chief emphasized that precautions must be taken to ensure that the pace of development remains uninterrupted.
Earlier, Naidu unveiled a 58-foot-tall bronze statue of freedom fighter Potti Sreeramulu. Sreeramulu had undertaken a fast unto death to demand the creation of a separate state for Telugu-speaking people, distinct from the Madras Presidency. Sreeramulu’s indefinite hunger strike lasted for 58 days, culminating in his demise on December 15, 1952. As a direct result of this fast, a separate state—Andhra Pradesh—was carved out of the erstwhile Madras State for the Telugu-speaking population, a development that eventually paved the way for the formation of other linguistic states across India.
Decades later, Andhra Pradesh was subsequently bifurcated into the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. On Monday, coinciding with Potti Sreeramulu’s 125th birth anniversary, the Chief Minister unveiled the statue at Sakhamuru Park; Sreeramulu is revered as ‘Amarajeevi’ (the Immortal Soul). The first phase of this project, executed at a cost of ₹150 crore, has been completed across a 6.8-acre site, while the Potti Sreeramulu Memorial Trust completed the construction of the 58-foot-tall statue within a span of six months. A total of 26 tons of bronze and 42 tons of iron were utilized in the construction of the statue. In the second phase, a museum, a photo gallery, an auditorium, and a skill development center will be constructed at this site. This memorial complex will be developed to commemorate the sacrifice of Sriramulu.
Recalling Sriramulu’s sacrifice, the Chief Minister called for collective efforts toward the development of the state. Describing Sriramulu as synonymous with inspiration, the CM noted that the statue has been constructed to a height of 58 feet, symbolizing his 58-day fast. The Chief Minister stated that Sriramulu’s statue has been named the ‘Statue of Sacrifice,’ emphasizing that he fought for numerous causes and made the ultimate sacrifice to achieve a separate Telugu state. Naidu underscored that Sriramulu’s sacrifice paved the way for the formation of states on linguistic lines, and he also highlighted that Sriramulu had observed a 29-day fast to secure temple entry rights for Dalits.
Recalling that the Telugu state has faced numerous challenges in the past—and continues to face them today—Naidu noted that Kurnool was initially designated as the capital, followed by Hyderabad, and subsequently, Amaravati after the bifurcation of the state. However, he alleged that between 2019 and 2024, politics were played under the pretext of splitting the capital city into three parts; ultimately, during the tenure of the previous YSRCP government, no capital city was successfully established. Now, he stated, Amaravati is being developed as the ‘People’s Capital.’ Although the Telugu community has been divided at various times and united during different eras, Naidu observed that there are now two distinct states for the Telugu people. To facilitate the reconstruction of the state, Naidu noted that the TDP, Janasena, and BJP have formed an alliance, which has yielded ‘positive results’ over the past 21 months. Asserting that the NDA coalition government is advancing welfare and development initiatives, Naidu pledged to complete the Polavaram project before the 2027 Godavari Pushkaralu (a pilgrimage similar to the Kumbh Mela). Furthermore, Naidu also released a special postal cover dedicated to Sriramulu.