Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during the 78th Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations in Secunderabad, Telangna, on Wednesday.
Credit: PTI Photo
Hyderabad: Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy has asserted that the history of Telangana's attainment of 'freedom' and accession to India has been wickedly suppressed by the Congress, BRS, and other parties, keeping current and future generations unaware of these crucial events.
Speaking at the Telangana Liberation Day event organised by the Union government on Wednesday, Kishan Reddy called it tragic that the day Telangana gained freedom was excluded from textbooks, not taught to college students, rarely discussed publicly, and ignored by governments.
"All the people of Telangana should question why these parties have been neglecting and concealing the history of the day when freedom came to our Telangana region and the tricolor flag was hoisted," he said.
"Why are these political parties and governments today changing the name of Hyderabad Liberation Day and insulting the struggle of Telangana people, along with the sacrifices of numerous martyrs who dedicated themselves to freedom?" Kishan Reddy asked.
He recalled that on September 17, 1948, the Indian Army declared war on the Nizam government, advancing from three directions — Vijayawada, Nagpur, and Bombay — with tanks to fight against the Hyderabad State for the protection of its people.
He noted that when India gained independence, the Nizam wrote several letters to the United Nations expressing his desire for the Nizam state to remain independent rather than join India, while also holding discussions about merging with Pakistan.
"The Razakars, who were the Nizam's private army belonging to the MIM party, attacked villages, looted them, committed various atrocities against rural people, and killed thousands. The incident of Hindu women being stripped naked and humiliated is also known to us," he said.
The Minister explained that when such atrocities were taking place, after 13 months, on September 17, 1948, under Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's initiative, the Indian Army declared war on the Hyderabad State and advanced, hoisting the tricolour flag and bringing freedom and independence to the region.
Kishan Reddy explained that Hyderabad Liberation Day had not been celebrated for the past 78 years because the MIM party was established under Qasim Razvi's leadership in the Nizam state. "Their private army, the Razakars, massacred many people...," he said.
"Therefore, fearing the MIM party, some parties and the State government have been suppressing this history, sacrifices, and facts for so many years. That's why today we are officially organising Telangana Liberation Day celebrations on behalf of the Central government," he added.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay expressed grave concern that Telangana would have turned into "another Pakistan, another Sri Lanka, or another Bangladesh — a land of chaos and hunger" if it had not merged with India.
He emphasised that without Patel, Telangana would never have attained liberation, stating that it is precisely because of this historic significance that the Central government is observing the Telangana Liberation Day.
Since the government of India has issued a gazette notification, Sanjay urged the State government to officially celebrate the day alongside January 26 (Republic Day) and August 15 (Independence Day) under the name 'Telangana Liberation Celebrations'.
He criticised the organising of events under the name 'Telangana People's Governance' as inappropriate, sarcastically suggesting that the State would be better served organising events under the name 'Telangana People's Betrayal Day' instead.
Both Ministers attended the Telangana Liberation Day event organised by the Central government at Parade Grounds in Secunderabad.