Mention two things to a Telugu person and chances are good that he'd throw up. One is Jagan's never-ending 'Odarpu Yatra' and the other is a demand from every Tom, Dick and Harry for a 'Bharat Ratna' to NTR.
So tired have people become of hearing about Jagan’s ‘Odarpu’ that they just can’t take it anymore. If Jagan intends this to be a platform for his political ambitions then he should think again! It is high time that he winds up this programme and gets on to other things.
As for the demand for a ‘Bharat Ratna’ to NTR, it is being voiced only by the sycophants of the ruling party.
NTR was a great actor and no doubts regarding that! But he was not a great politician in that he could not endear himself to all sections and communities.
A ‘Bharat Ratna’ candidate’s life should be a source of motivation and free from blemishes. Unfortunately, that is not the case with NTR who has had his fair share of controversies.
Be it the corruptions cases he was convicted in, his alleged taciturn support in the murders of Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga Rao and Pingali Dasaratha Ram, his patronage of the factionist Paritala Ravindra and his politics of vendetta against the livelihood of the ‘Brahmins’, NTR was always more of a politician than a leader.
Besides, a ‘Bharat Ratna’ is one that is normally given to a person who has had a pan-Indian influence, cutting across religions, regions and languages.
NTR is definitely a ‘Ratna’ for his community, in fact he gave them life, but that’s about it!
Bharat Ratna? Not so sure! Potti Sriramulu or Alluri Seetharama Raju deserves it more. Why doesn’t the TDP pitch their names?
