'BJP leaders Gujarat's slaves, Congress' Delhi's puppets': KTR rekindles Telangana movement's spirit on Deeksha Divas

Hyderabad: After being out of power for almost a year and playing the role of opposition, BRS celebrated "Deeksha Divas" on a high note on Friday, which was seen as an attempt to rekindle the spirit of the 'Telangana struggle' to overthrow the Congress government.

BRS observes November 29 as Deeksha Divas to commemorate BRS patriarch K Chandrashekar Rao's fast unto death in 2009, which was seen as a turning point in the long-drawn struggle for a separate Telangana to be carved out from Andhra Pradesh.

At BRS headquarters, party working president and former minister KT Rama Rao while addressing the party workers asserted that without political self-existence of Telangana people, there is no one to voice the state's concerns in the Parliament

He further added that only BRS is Telangana’s voice.

KTR accused both the BJP and Congress of undermining Telangana's struggle, referring to BJP as "Gujarat's slaves" and Congress leaders as "Delhi's puppets." He called on Telangana people to recognize and resist these threats.

He also urged the younger generation to learn from the past. "History teaches us who our friends and enemies are. Forgetting our struggles will make us vulnerable to future attacks on our existence," KTR said and compared Telangana’s movement to India’s independence struggle, drawing parallels with the resilience and leadership of figures like Gandhi and Mandela.

He reminded the gathering of KCR's resolve during his 2009 till-death fast, which laid the foundation for Telangana’s formation. He stressed the need for continued vigilance, stating, "If we become careless even once, Telangana will suffer for another 60 years."

KTR also passionately emphasized the importance of remembering the history of the Telangana movement, "Three generations had to endure oppression. Forgetting our past struggles would be a grave mistake. We must teach future generations about self-respect and the sacrifices made to achieve Telangana," he said.

KTR criticized the current Chief Minister, A Revanth Reddy, accusing him of attacking Telangana's self-respect and identity. "Revanth Reddy's attempts to erase KCR's legacy are not just about KCR—they are about erasing Telangana's history and identity," he said and condemned the removal of Kakatiya architectural elements in official emblem of state and replacing Telangana Mother’s statue with that of Rahul Gandhi's father, terming it a betrayal of Telangana's movement and aspirations.

KTR highlighted the recent suspension of land acquisition in Lagcherla as a victory for Telangana's people, particularly tribals, Dalits, BCs, and farmers. "This victory belongs to the people, not real estate mafias. We will continue to resist any attempts to exploit Telangana's lands for selfish gains," he said.