Amaravati, March 16 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday unveiled a 58-foot bronze statue of Potti Sriramulu, a freedom fighter, who fasted to death demanding the creation of a separate state for Telugu-speaking people from Madras.
Sriramulu's indefinite fast lasted for 58 days, and he died on December 15, 1952. This fast led to the creation of a separate state, Andhra Pradesh, for Telugu-speaking people from the then Madras state, which ultimately resulted in the creation of other linguistic states in India.
Andhra Pradesh was further divided into Telangana and Andhra Pradesh decades later.
The chief minister unveiled the statue of Potti Sriramulu, who is revered as "Amarajeevi" (immortal being), at Shakhamuru Park on the occasion of his 125th birth anniversary, on Monday.
The first phase of this project, costing Rs 150 crore, has been completed on a 6.8-acre plot, while the Potti Sriramulu Memorial Trust completed the construction of the 58-ft statue in six months.
A total of 26 tons of bronze and 42 tons of iron were used for the statue.
In the second phase, a museum, photo gallery, auditorium, and a skill development center will be constructed at the site, according to an official press release.
This memorial complex will be developed to reflect the sacrifice of Sriramulu.