Shankar Rai, a Congress leader from Telangana intends to install a nine-foot statue of party president Sonia Gandhi, depicting her as ‘Telangana Talli’ or Mother Telangana, at a spot near the Bangalore-Hyderabad highway registered in his daughter name.

A visibly ‘proud’ Rao told rediff.com that this is the least he could do to thank his ‘madam’ for the decision to carve out a separate Telangana state.

“I have depicted her as a Goddess as she ended the dominance of the people of Seema-Andhra had over the people of Telangana,” he said.

The bronze statue is around 9 foot tall, and weighs 500 kilograms.

“I know the people of Telangana are grateful to Sonia, and so I wanted to do something so that people could offer prayers to her everyday. I have used my own money to make this statue,” he said.

“We have the prototype ready and have even gotten an approval from some Congress leaders. I am sure that this will benefit a lot of people who want to pay their respects to Sonia,” he added

“I would not call it blind idolising. I have always respected the Nehru-Gandhi family. If I appreciate someone, there is no harm in going to any length to show it. It does not trouble anyone. In fact, people should know what she has done for Telangana,” he said.