New Delhi: Setting aside their differences, the members of the family of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) founder N T Rama Rao united for the unveiling of his statue in Parliament House complex here yesterday.
NTR’s second wife Lakshmi Parvathi also attended the function, a rare occasion that brought together the family of the late leader, who founded the TDP in early 1980s on the slogan of Telugu self-respect.
Parvathi had said in Hyderabad on Monday night that she would not be going to Delhi though she received a message saying she may attend the function if she desires.
She told reporters after the ceremony that Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar had clarified that she did not send invitations to anybody.
“She told me not to mind it. I also said sorry to her because I had threatened to file a case against her,” said Parvathi, who was happy over NTR’s family coming together for the occasion.
Parvathi, whom NTR had married in 1994, was never accepted as a part of the family after NTR’s death in January 1996, a few months after his son-in-law N Chandrababu unseated him from power following her alleged growing interference in party affairs and administration.
Meira Kumar unveiled the 9.3 feet bronze statue of NTR in the presence of Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, leader of opposition Sushma Swaraj, several union ministers and leaders of various political parties.
TDP chief Naidu, who received the invitation only yesterday, attended the ceremony with TDP MPs and other leaders.
D Mayacharya, who sculpted the statue, was honoured. IANS
