Hyderabad: KCR, ESL Narasimhan get emotional at farewell

Hyderabad: "Parting gives us pain. It is really a painful moment that the state would be losing the services of Governor ESL Narasimhan who had first hand understanding and full background of agitation for the separate state of Telangana, its formation and its journey so far," Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said in an emotionally choked voice at the farewell lunch hosted by him for the Governor at Pragati Bhavan on Saturday.

Recalling his association with Narasimhan, KCR said the Governor had always patted him, inspired him, encouraged him and instilled confidence in him. He said the Governor couple used to celebrate all festivals in a grand manner. He said now he would be missing all those lip-smacking delicious items.

KCR said that when Narasimhan was first appointed Governor of the undivided Andhra Pradesh during the agitation for separate state was at its peak, people thought the then Central government had selected him to crush the movement since Narasimhan was a former IPS officer and former chief of Intelligence Bureau. The Chief Minister said, when he met him around that time, he was surprised to see Narasimhan showing interest in knowing about the reasons for the movement and how it could survive so long.

"I always regarded him as an elder brother. He also treated me not just as a CM but as a younger brother. He used to inquire about aims and objectives of the schemes. He liked KCR Kits, Haritha Haram, Double Bedroom Housing and Mission Bhagiratha schemes. He expressed satisfaction that these schemes were very useful for the poor. He would pat me and instil confidence in me during adverse times. He would bless me saying, I should make my human effort and God would shower his blessings," the Chief Minister turned nostalgic.

"When we launched reconstruction work of Yadadri, the Governor couple took part in the Pooja programme with great reverence to the God. I have lost my parents. I do not have an elder brother.

' I wanted to seek blessings from the elders and started this work. Like a younger brother, I touched their feet and took blessings and launched the work'.