VIJAYAWADA: Former MP Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad and Telugu language lovers took out a rally here on Saturday with two stone plaques engraved with ‘foundation stone ceremony event’ in Telugu, for installing them at the site where the foundation stone for the capital city of Amaravati was laid.

Yarlagadda said that in the past, they gave several representations to the government for using Telugu language on the plaques of foundation stone for the capital city, but it was written in English only. So, they themselves made the plaques and were presenting to the CRDA officials for putting them at the capital city foundation stone site.

“When they laid the foundation stone for Amaravati, we asked them to use Telugu language, since it is state official language. But, no one had listened. Then again, we reminded them when the foundation stone for the temporary secretariat was laid at Velagapudi, but there was no response and the language used was English. We are not against the use of English, but what about our official language of Telugu? When people of the state understand their own tongue, why no respect is being given to Telugu,” he wanted to know.

It was neither a protest nor a demand, but a gentle reminder to the state government of its bounden duty to protect, use and promote Telugu language, the official language of the state. “It is not just in the foundation stones, Telugu was not being implemented completely in official transactions and communications, as is needed. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu says, his government is committed to protect and promote Telugu language, but it is not getting translated into action.