Tirupati, May 28: The Telugu Desam Party today demanded that the coveted Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award, be conferred on its founder leader N T Rama Rao for his contribution to arts, culture and politics. Paying glorious tributes to NTR on his birth anniversary, the party general body meeting 'Mahanadu', in a unanimous resolution moved by film star Murali Mohan said Bharat Ratna should be conferred on its founder.
Listing out the various steps being taken by the ruling Telugu Desam to promote art and culture in Andhra Pradesh, Mohan said the government was promoting theatre arts in a big way by encouraging stage artistes and was giving old age pensions besides annual awards for best talent.
Vanam Krishnaveni, who seconded the resolution, said the state was improving tourism and other cultural facilities.
Party president N Chandrababu Naidu, who was reelected TDP chief on the second day of Mahanadu, held on NTR's birthday ever since its formation in 1982, said there were 21 temples in the state which were yielding over Rs one crore revenue annually.
He said his government was committed to promote tourism in a big way as it would provide more employment opportunities to locals. Bureau Report