Venkaiah Naidu calls for preservation of Ongole cattle breed

Former Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu and Urida Governor Kambhampati Haribabu felicitated Ongole at the ‘Ongole Utsavam’ at the Mini Stadium on Wednesday to persons who have rendered outstanding services. | Photo credit: KOMMURI SRINIVAS

Former Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu has called for the preservation of the unique characteristics and spirited nature of the world famous Ongole cattle breed. He attended the ‘Ongole Utsavam’ event as the Chief Guest – an event organized at the Mini Stadium to mark the 150th anniversary of the Ongole Municipality.

As part of the celebrations, several ministers, public representatives, officials and prominent citizens of the district participated in the Ongole cattle breed parade held on Trunk Road on Wednesday. The former vice president reminded that the public is responsible for the preservation of these cattle because many foreign countries take these native cattle to develop new breeds.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Venkaiah Naidu recalled the deep, intimate bond he shared with Ongol. He recalled that during his tenure as Union Minister for Rural and Urban Development, he insisted on providing Pucca roads to every village and was instrumental in launching the ‘Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana’ under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Mr. Venkaiah Naidu said that he worked with the belief that a nation prospers only when its villages prosper. He appealed to the public to adopt cleanliness and hygiene as a way of life and urged them to refrain from encroaching on tanks, canals and roads.

Noting that his political journey began in 1977 in Ongole Parliamentary Constituency, he recalled how the people here embraced him as a young man from an ordinary farming family who fought against the Emergency and held it close to their hearts. He recounted how people had voluntarily rallied behind him and supported him by contributing funds during elections in his earlier days.

Speaking on the occasion, Social Welfare Minister Dola Sree Veeranjaneya Swamy said the 150th anniversary celebration was a significant milestone. He congratulated Governor Kambhampati Hari Babu, a native of Ongole who attended the event in his official capacity and praised MLA Damacharla Janardhana Rao for showcasing Ongole appreciation to the world.

He also highlighted the remarkable initiative of organizing 150 medical camps in a single day as part of the anniversary celebrations. He said Ongole is flourishing in the field of education and described the ‘Ongole Bull’ as a symbol of strength and vitality. He expressed hope that Ongole will continue to grow in the future.

Published – 30 Sep 2026 21:54 IST