Indian-origin British MP Virendra Sharma has lauded Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao for his decision to install a 125-feet tall bronze statue of Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar which was unveiled on April 14, 2023, in Hyderabad.
Sharma, the Member of Parliament for Ealing, wrote a letter addressed to the Telangana Chief Minister stating that the construction of the statue is a great achievement that the entire state should be proud of. "The history and work of Ambedkar were the stories of India. Themes of tolerance, his stance for equality in society, and his thoughts, actions, and extensive writing were way ahead of his time in the UK and India,” he added.
The MP emphasized that Ambedkar's ideas that were espoused and shared have shaped the modern constitution of India, prioritizing development and plurality over outdated notions. He stated that Dr Ambedkar, the author and father of the Indian constitution, had a vision for the future, which has not been fully realized and added that Dr Ambedkar envisaged an India unencumbered by superstition, dedicated to the development of its own people.
"It is a particular pleasure to work closely with Uday Nagaraju, a son of Telangana, putting himself forward for election in the UK. They do fantastic work, not just for their own community, but to invigorate and enrich the social and cultural life of the entire United Kingdom and Telangana diaspora," Sharma added.
Virendra Sharma MP, The Green, Southall, UK Appreciated Our Hon’ble CM KCR Sir For India's tallest statue of BR Ambedkar standing at 125 feet, which was unveiled Recently.@VirendraSharma @SantoshKumarBRS pic.twitter.com/0l5EsHiZke
— Sravan Muddu Bidda (@MudduBidda) April 22, 2023
The construction project launched in 2016 is designed by sculptor and architect Padma awardee Ram V Sutar and his son Anil Sutar and is made of 360 tons of stainless steel and 114 tons of bronze.
