ATF opposes state honours for Gaddar's funeral

Hyderabad: Anti-Terrorism Forum (ATF) has criticized the Telangana government's decision to conduct the funeral of revolutionary balladeer and renowned folk singer Gummadi Vittal Rao, popularly known as Gaddar with state honours.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday directed Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari and other officials to make arrangements regarding the funeral and said Gaddar played a key role in the Telangana movement.

ATF condemned the government's decision and alleged that this move amounts to an insult to the police personnel and civilians who were martyred in the fight against Naxalism or Maoism.

ATF secretary Ravinuthala Shashidhar said that Gaddar, with his revolutionary songs, attracted youth towards the Maoist movement. By taking up arms against democracy, Maoists killed thousands of policemen and they also targeted ordinary citizens and nationalists.

Shashidhar said in a statement that Gaddar through his poetry prepared youth to become anti-nationals and take up armed struggle against democracy and the decision of the Telangana government to conduct the last rites of such a person with state honours deserved to be condemned.

The ATF leader further said that the state government's decision is an insult to police martyrs who laid down their lives to safeguard democracy and maintain law and order. He also believes that the decision will hit the morale of the police force.

Shashidhar said the government’s decision will upset the families of police martyrs and he suggested that the Police Officers' Association should also open its mouth and make the government withdraw its decision.

He added that this should not be seen as a cremation of an individual. If last rites are conducted with state honours, this would mean making the police force salute Maoism.

With inputs from IANS