Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Hyderabad today to inaugurate the 216-feet tall 'Statue of Equality' commemorating the 11th-century Bhakti Saint Ramanujacharya and to take part in the Golden Jubilee celebrations of ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics). Modi arrived on a special flight from Delhi to Begumpet Airport at 2:45 pm.
He will visit the ICRISAT campus in Patancheru, Hyderabad and kickstart the 50th-anniversary celebrations of ICRISAT. At around 5 PM, Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation the 'Statue of Equality' in Hyderabad. The Statue of Equality celebrates Bhakti Saint Sri Ramanujacharya, who promoted the idea of equality in all aspects of living including faith, caste and creed.
"I look forward to being in Hyderabad today to take part in two programmes. At around 2:45 PM, I will join the 50th Anniversary celebrations of ICRISAT, an important institution that works on aspects relating to agriculture and innovation," PM Modi said in a tweet today. "At 5 PM, I will join the programme to inaugurate the 'Statue of Equality.' This is a fitting tribute to Sri Ramanujacharya, whose sacred thoughts and teachings inspire us," he added.
The statue is made of 'panchaloha', comprising five metals: gold, silver, copper, brass, and zinc and is among one of the tallest metallic statues in sitting position, in the world. It is mounted on a 54-ft high base building, named 'Bhadra Vedi', which has floors devoted for a Vedic digital library and research centre, ancient Indian texts, a theatre, an educational gallery detailing many works of Sri Ramanujacharya.