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“Latchanna was a people’s leader”

Leaders of different political ideologies recall association with veteran freedom fighter

Felicitation: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy greets a look-alike of Gouthu Latchanna during the veteran freedom fighter’s birth centenary held at Hyderabad on Tuesday.

HYDERABAD: Several leaders of different political ideologies came together on a dais to recall their fruitful and enriching association with Sardar Gouthu Latchanna, veteran freedom fighter and champion of the Backward Classes, at his birth centenary celebrations here on Tuesday.

Given the late Gouthu Latchanna’s standing, his political career and his selfless record of service to the people, the State government declared the celebrations as official and spared no effort in putting up an impressive show.

Presiding over the function, Finance Minister K. Rosaiah recalled his two decades-old association with Latchanna and with Acharya NG Ranga before joining the Congress in 1978.

He said it would have better if the celebrations were held on August 16, the day the freedom fighter was born, but said it could not be, because Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had a meeting with the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh the same day.

He went on to extol Latchanna’s virtues as a people’s leader who never hankered for power anytime in his long life and said he would be in the hearts of people forever.

Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy said it was in 1978 that he met Latchanna in the portals of the Assembly.

“I elected from the Reddy Congress, when Latchanna was Leader of a 60-strong Janata Dal Legislature Party,” he reminisced, going on to add Latchanna was known for being ‘fearless’ and speaking out what he believed in, confidently and without ever flinching.

The Chief Minister said a cultural complex matching the grandeur of Ravindra Bharathi would be built and named after him.

Likewise, he said soon, the BC Study Circle in Visakhapatnam would be named in his memory and in recognition of his service to people.

Among others present were Legislative Council Chairman A. Chakrapani, Ministers J. Geeta Reddy, Dharmana Prasada Rao, Satrucharla Vijayarama Raju, P. Satyanarayana, a member of the Telangana Armed Struggle, Ch. Rajeswara Rao and former Minister and son of Latchanna, former Minister Shyamsundar Sivaji.