Why Was Gandhi’s Statue Opposed by His Great-Grandson?

The Telangana government has decided to install the world’s tallest statue of Mahatma Gandhi under the ambitious Musi Riverfront Development project in Hyderabad.

The project named Gandhi Sarovar Project, estimated to be set up in a sprawling 200 acres, has become controversial with the government deciding to evacuate nearly 500 families living in Madhu Park Ridge Apartments in Bandlaguda Jagir, near Musi, for executing it.

Many of the residents in the apartments are retired defense personnel and senior citizens. The project is not just about the statue and rivers Musi and Esi rivers but also about land and livelihoods.

The families said they are living under tension as the multi-crore project could displace them. The installation of the statue is being planned at the confluence of the two rivers. The government has big plans to beautify the city along the river bank.

Tushar Gandhi, the great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, also expressed displeasure over the Gandhi Sarovar Project and urged Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to reconsider it, as a huge number of families are likely to suffer due to it.

He said that the displacement of the families should be reconsidered. He is also against the idea of disturbing the families for the sake of a statue, even when it is of this grandfather.

He said: “Displacing resident to create space for a Gandhi statue is the most unGandhian action. My appeal to the Cm of Telangana is to please not do it.” Even Bapu would have said: “Not in my name, Stop it!”

A few videos of the residents and senior citizens from the apartment complex carrying placards with slogans “Don’t make us homeless in Gandhi’s name’ have gone viral on social media.

In the wake of the severe opposition from the residents and other stakeholders, the government says that it is reconsidering the project.