Naidu unveils 58-ft ‘Statue of Sacrifice’ of Potti Sriramulu in Amaravati
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday unveiled a 58-foot bronze statue of freedom fighter Potti Sriramulu in Amaravati to mark his 125th birth anniversary. He said the best tribute to the leader would be the all-round development of Andhra Pradesh.
The monument, called the “Statue of Sacrifice,” stands at Sakhamuru Park as part of the Sri Potti Sriramulu Memorial Park project. It symbolises Sriramulu’s 58-day fast unto death, which led to the formation of Andhra State.
The memorial park spreads across 6.80 acres. The Amarajeevi Potti Sriramulu Memorial Trust completed the first phase in six months. Officials said the statue uses 26 tonnes of bronze and an iron framework weighing 42 tonnes. Meanwhile, authorities plan to build a museum, an auditorium, and skill development centres in the second phase.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Naidu said Sriramulu’s legacy inspires all communities. “The world has the Statue of Liberty, and India has the Statue of Unity. Now Andhra Pradesh has the Statue of Sacrifice,” he said. He urged the people to remember Sriramulu’s sacrifice and work for the state’s progress.
He also noted that Sriramulu’s fast played a key role in the creation of linguistic states in India. In addition, he recalled the leader’s efforts for social reform, including the campaign for temple entry for Dalits.
Referring to the state’s history, the Chief Minister said the Telugu people overcame many challenges. They lived under the Madras Presidency before forming Andhra State with Kurnool as the capital. Later, Hyderabad became the capital of united Andhra Pradesh. Now the reorganised state is building its capital at Amaravati.
However, Mr. Naidu criticised the previous government’s proposal for a three-capital model. Instead, he said Amaravati is being developed as a people’s capital with the support of farmers who contributed land for the project.
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, Union Minister of State for Rural Development Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, ministers Nara Lokesh, Kandula Durgesh, Nadendla Manohar, T. G. Bharath, and S. Savitha, along with P. V. N. Madhav, attended the ceremony. They paid floral tributes to the statue.
During the event, authorities also released a commemorative postal cover on Potti Sriramulu. In addition, organisers felicitated members of the freedom fighters’ families on the stage.