Sripada Rao’s legacy celebrated on 89th birth anniversary

metro india news  I hyderabad

The 89th birth anniversary of the late Duddilla Sripada Rao, former Speaker of the united Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, was celebrated with grandeur on Monday at Shilpakala Vedika, Hitec City. The event, organized by the Telangana Department of Language and Culture, brought together political and social leaders who paid tribute to a leader renowned for his integrity, values, and commitment to public service.

Karnataka Assembly Speaker U. T. Khader, the chief guest, garlanded a portrait of Sripada Rao and described him as a towering figure of values in politics. Speaking at the event, Khader said Sripada Rao brought dignity and integrity to the office of the Speaker and showed that political positions are not crowns but responsibilities that must be carried out with commitment. He highlighted Sripada Rao’s journey from sarpanch to Speaker, calling it a source of inspiration for the younger generation. Khader also praised Sripada Rao’s wholehearted support for the “recall” system, which allows citizens to hold their representatives accountable.

Khader further noted that during his tenure as Speaker, Sripada Rao gave equal opportunities to both ruling and opposition members, safeguarding parliamentary traditions. He said Sripada Rao demonstrated not only how a leader should live but also how one could remain in the hearts of people even after passing away. In times when ethical and parliamentary standards are under scrutiny, leaders like him serve as examples to emulate. Khader also recalled that during social unrest, Sripada Rao courageously invoked constitutional provisions to protect the vulnerable, leaving a legacy that continues to set standards for governance.

Telangana IT and Industries Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu, Sripada Rao’s son, spoke emotionally about his father. He said that Sripada Rao did not leave material wealth but imparted moral values—the courage to stand by ordinary people and support those in distress. Sridhar Babu recalled that his father acted for the welfare of citizens at every step and that he remained devoted to the people until his last breath. He pledged to continue his father’s legacy through sincere public service, emphasizing that Sripada Rao showed how a leader should live and remain immortal in the hearts of the people.

The celebrations were attended by Telangana Legislative Council Chairman Gutta Sukender Reddy, Vice-Chairman Banda Prakash, Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar, Adluri Laxman Kumar, and Mohammad Azharuddin, along with several MLAs and MLCs, including Vijay Ramana Rao, Raj Thakur Makkan Singh, Adi Srinivas, Prem Sagar Rao, Gandra Satyanarayana, Kumbham Anil Kumar Reddy, Arikepudi Gandhi, Mal Reddy Rangareddy, Surabhi Vanidevi, and Balmuri Venkat.

The Shilpakala Vedika premises was filled with Sripada Rao’s admirers and political activists who listened to speeches recounting his life, parliamentary rulings, and unwavering dedication to public service.