Hyderabad: Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy criticized successive governments in both undivided Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for not officially celebrating ‘Hyderabad Liberation Day’ on September 17. According to him, this was due to appeasement and vote-bank politics.
Reddy spoke at a Central government event commemorating the anniversary of Hyderabad State’s merger with the Indian Union in 1948. He accused both the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and Congress of misleading the public about the significance of ‘Liberation Day.’
He pointed out that BRS leader K Chandrasekhar Rao, while in opposition, questioned why the day was not officially celebrated. However, after becoming Chief Minister, Reddy claimed that Rao changed his stance to align with his political ally, AIMIM, and gave a wrong interpretation of the event.
The Union Minister also highlighted that while Maharashtra and Karnataka governments officially celebrate the day in districts that were part of the former Hyderabad princely state, the Telangana government has refused to do so.
Reddy credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for ensuring that the Central government has been celebrating Hyderabad Liberation Day for the past three years. He alleged that Telangana’s history was suppressed and twisted for political gain, and that the true facts were hidden to serve vote-bank politics.
Reddy emphasized the importance of knowing historical facts to build a better future. He stated that for Telangana, September 17 holds as much significance as August 15 does for India, as it marks the day when people were freed from Nizam rule and the atrocities of the Razakars, a private militia supporting the Nizam.
He called for the people to reject political parties that ignore Telangana’s history and independence. Reddy also recalled the brutal actions of the Razakars, led by Kasim Razvi, who committed atrocities against Hindus before the Hyderabad State merged with India through Operation Polo, led by Sardar Patel.
The minister added that the Nizam had aspirations for Hyderabad to become either an independent Islamic country or to join Pakistan and had even held talks with the neighboring country. However, Telangana was liberated when Indian forces took control and the Indian flag was flown in Hyderabad.
Reddy also mentioned that the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), founded in 1928, had declared that the Nizam should rule not only Hyderabad but the entire country.
Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar, BJP MPs K Laxman and Eatala Rajender, and high-ranking officials from CISF and CRPF also attended the event.
