Leaders across parties hail Guv at autobiography launch

Former President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday praised Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya as a rare leader without any foes or rivals in public life.

Speaking after releasing Dattatreya’s autobiography in Telugu ‘Prajala kathe, naa atma katha’ (story of people is my life story), he said Dattatreya is a personality who is a friend to all.

A galaxy of leaders, cutting cross political lines, including former Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, his Telangana counterpart A Revanth Reddy, Governors of various states and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy attended the event.

“I think, in his (Dattatreya) dictionary of life, perhaps, there are no words like enemy or rival,” Kovind said.

Hailing Dattatreya for his tireless efforts for uplifting the poor and aiding those in need, Kovind also recalled his incarceration during the Emergency. “During imprisonment, he used to encourage his fellow jail inmates saying they will get released from jail soon.” Kovind further said the initiatives undertaken by Dattatreya as Union Labour Minister like minimum wages, minimum pension and increase in gratuity are benefitting lakhs and crores of workmen even today.

Venkaiah Naidu said Dattatreya never had a personal life as his life has always been intertwined with people.

Noting that some politicians switched party loyalties like “diapers are changed for children”, he emphasised that remaining committed to an ideology is as important as honesty and integrity which is exemplified by Dattatreya.

Describing Dattatreya as a “gentleman politician”, Chandrababu Naidu praised Dattatreya’s service (as a volunteer of RSS) in Krishna district of Andhra during the devastating cyclone of 1977 and also his jail term during the Emergency.

Lauding Dattatreya’s humble nature and his contributions as a Lok Sabha member, Union Minister and as Governor, the Andhra CM said the Haryana Governor’s life serves as a role model in many ways.

Describing Dattatreya as ‘ajatshatru’ (one who has no enemy), Revanth Reddy said the Haryana Governor commands respect across all parties in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, much like former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the national level.