Kamareddy, January 20: A statue of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was unveiled at Indira Chowk near the railway station in Kamareddy town on Tuesday. Telangana government advisor and senior Congress leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir led the ceremony, accompanied by district in-charge minister D Seethakka, TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud, and Zaheerabad MP Suresh Kumar Shetkar.

Shabbir Ali recalled Indira Gandhi’s close association with Kamareddy, calling the town a Congress stronghold. He described the unveiling of her statue as a moment of pride and praised her as a bold and visionary leader who stood for the poor. He highlighted her revolutionary decisions such as bank nationalisation and the launch of the ‘Garibi Hatao’ campaign, which brought significant change to the lives of the underprivileged. Reaffirming the Congress party’s commitment to the development of Kamareddy, he promised to deliver the welfare benefits of ‘Indiramma Rajyam’ to every household. He urged party workers to work like disciplined soldiers to realise her vision.

Minister Seethakka hailed Indira Gandhi as a symbol of courage and women’s empowerment. As India’s first woman Prime Minister, she said, Indira Gandhi upheld the dignity of women and inspired generations. Seethakka added that the present Telangana government is moving in the direction of ‘Indiramma Rajyam’ by implementing schemes such as Indiramma Illu, which provides housing for the poor. She called Indira the Iron Lady whose leadership continues to guide the nation.

TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud praised Indira Gandhi’s supreme sacrifice for national unity and said her ideals remain central to the Congress party. He noted that her 20-point programme became the foundation for several current welfare initiatives. He expressed hope that the presence of her statue in Kamareddy would inspire workers and strengthen the Congress base in the region.

Zaheerabad MP Suresh Kumar Shetkar described Indira Gandhi as more than a political figure – “a powerful force” whose foresight helped India achieve food security and self-reliance. He said her welfare schemes have left a lasting imprint across every village in the Zaheerabad parliamentary constituency. He pledged to continue public service in line with her ideals. (eom)