Hyderabad: Critics hit out at Chief Ministers N. Chandrababu Naidu and K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday for not coordinating with the Tamil Nadu government for ordering a state funeral for legendary Carnatic singer Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna. AP cultural affairs minister Palle Raghunatha Reddy, who attended the funeral, said, “We had made an appeal to the Tamil Nadu government for a state funeral when veteran director Bapu had died, but we did not get any response. When we pressed, they told us such decisions have to be taken by Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa. Since we had this bitter experience last time, we did not ask for (a similar honour) for Balamuralikrishna. Everyone knows that Ms Jayalalithaa is not well and is undergoing treatment.” He added that a bronze statue of the musician would be installed in Andhra Pradesh, at a place to be decided by Balamuralikrishna’s family members.
