When actor-turned-Telugu Desam Party leader and ex-MP Nandamuri Harikrishna died in a tragic road accident in Nalgonda district in August 2018, TRS president and chief minister KCR expressed deep condolences to the bereaved family.
KCR went to the residence of Harikrishna and consoled his sons Junior N T Rama Rao and Kalyan Ram by hugging them. He went emotional on seeing the body of Harikrishna and ensured that the cremation was done with state honours.
Everybody appreciated KCR’s gesture and his respect for Harikrishna with whom he had good relations when he was in the TDP. Moreover, Harikrishna was the son of KCR’s favourite hero late N T Rama Rao.
But one wondered why the Telangana chief minister has not shown the same respect, reverence and concern over the death of Colonel Santosh Babu, the brave soldier from Telangana, who laid down his life while fighting the Chinese troops at Galwan valley in Eastern Ladakh on the Indo-China border.
Except sending an official condolence message, KCR did not bother to pay a visit to either Hakeempet airport or Suryapet, the native of Santosh, to place a wreath on the latter’s body to show his respect to the departed brave-heart.
Since the last rites would be performed with full military honours – several senior officials and jawans from 16th Bihar regiment of Indian Army came down to Hyderabad and Suryapet – there was nothing for the KCR government to do, except making arrangements for funeral.
Several people are asking why KCR didn’t pay tributes to Col Santosh personally, when Governor Tamilisai Sundararajan could go to Hakimpet to receive the body and pay floral tributes.
He only sent his son K T Rama Rao to place a wreath on the body and at Suryapet, his minister G Jagadish Reddy supervised the arrangements.
“It would have been respectful on the part of the chief minister had he gone to Hakimpet if not to Suryapet to pay tributes to the soldier, who made Telangana proud by sacrificing his life. When he could go to Harikrishna’s residence to pay respects to the departed soul, why didn’t he do the same in case of Col Santosh?” a senior journalist asked.
Well, it all depends on the mood of KCR. If he wants, he would go; otherwise, he won’t and nobody would question him.
Even when over 60 people died in a bus accident at Kondagattu last year, he did not bother to go to the spot to call on victims. And till now, nobody is bothered about the affected families!