Mahatma Gandhi it appears is a forgotten man. The Gandhi death anniversary which fell on January 30 was largely a non-event in Telangana. No major functionary made it to the customary prayer meeting at the Bapu Ghat near Langar Houz in the city on Sunday. It was left to some second level leaders to pay tributes to the father of the nation.
The programme started quite late as the officials had to wait for the VIPs to come. But both Governor Tamilisai Saundararajan and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao chose to skip the meeting. The reason for their absence is not known. It was left to Home Minister Mahmood Ali Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar to lead the prayers. Among those who turned up for the event are Rajya Sabha MP K Keshava Rao GHMC mayor Gadval Vijayalakshmi MLAs Mutha Gopal and Maganti Gopinath paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi.
The arrangements this time too were lax and the police security too was minimal. Usually the bouquets and wreaths laid would be removed by afternoon from the Bapughat. But this time around the wreaths were at the Ghat till late in the evening. In fact there was a huge pile of garbage right next to the Bapu Ghat till Saturday night. After some media houses pointed this out the GHMC staff hurriedly removed the garbage and spruced up the premises.
Bapu Ghat in Langar Houz is the place where the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were immersed in Musi river. The place was developed as Bapu Ghat and it used to be a beehive of activity till about a few years ago. However the interest to visit this spot is waning over the years say sources.