Congress slams Telangana deputy CM over 'Charminar remark'

New Delhi: Congress leader V. Hanumantha Rao has criticised Telangana's Deputy Chief Minister Mehmood Ali over his 'Charminar remark,' saying that nothing could be worse than demolishing a heritage building.

Rao remarked, "Nothing could be worse than demolishing a heritage building. This is wrong. Now, Taj Mahal has become old, should we demolish it too? People come to see Taj Mahal. People come to see Charminar."

He added that if such buildings need repair work, then they should be fixed but not demolished. "There's eight-acre space available alongside the hospital, build a new hospital there and mend the heritage building," Rao told ANI.

He stressed, "Heritage buildings should be preserved for future generations".

Telangana's Deputy Chief Minister Mehmood Ali on Saturday said spending 100 crore rupees on the maintenance of ancient structures or turning them into a museum was futile, and added that if the Charminar becomes weak, it too will be demolished.

Ali remarked, "After becoming weak, it can fall any time and people may lose their lives."

While pointing out that after spending 100 crore rupees on the maintenance of the Osmania General Hospital, the government will only get a warranty for 8-10 years, Ali said, "Instead of spending 100 crore rupees from the taxpayers' money and demolishing it 10 years later, we are turning it into a good hospital."

The Osmania General Hospital was built in 1919 and designed by British architect Vincent Jerome Esch.

Hyderabad, which is 424-years-old, is dotted with such structures. If the reasoning being applied behind the demolition of Osmania Hospital finds acceptance, then several such structures would be razed to the ground too.