Hyderabad, Sep 17: The BJP and TRS took digs at each other on Saturday over the celebrations marking the annexing of the erstwhile Nizam-ruled Hyderabad state to the Union of India, with the former slamming votebank politics behind the lack of official commemoration so far while the ruling party warned against communal forces trying to divide the society.
Union Minister Amit Shah took a veiled dig at TRS and its supremo, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, saying it is unfortunate the ‘Hyderabad Liberation Day’ has not been celebrated officially all these years in Telangana due to “vote bank politics” despite some leaders promising to do so.
Rao charged “disruptive forces” with distorting the occasion of September 17 to fulfill their narrow and selfish political interests.
The TRS hit back, slamming Shah for trying to “divide and bully.” While the Centre celebrated the ‘Hyderabad Liberation Day,’ the state government had opted for the nomenclature “Telangana Jateeya Samaikyata Dinotsavam” (Telangana National Integration Day).
“…when there was a demand in the region that Hyderabad Liberation Day be celebrated with government endorsement, it is unfortunate that, 75 years are over, but those who were in government here could not dare celebrate Hyderabad Liberation Day due to vote bank politics,” Shah charged.
He was speaking at the Union Government’s official celebration of ‘Hyderabad Liberation Day’ to mark the occasion of erstwhile princely State under Nizam rule merging with the Indian Union on September 17, 1948, following a police action codenamed “Operation Polo.”
In an apparent reference to Chief Minister Rao, Shah said many people had promised during elections and agitations to commemorate the day but went back on them after coming to power.
“Many people had made promises, during elections and during agitations. But, after coming to power, they turned back due to the fear of ‘Razakars’ (armed supporters of Nizam rule),” he said.
He congratulated Prime Minister Modi for his decision to officially celebrate the day.
Shah said he is not surprised but happy that everybody now celebrates the day after Modi took the decision.
“They celebrate the day. But, it is not called ‘Hyderabad Liberation Day’. There is still fear in the mind. I would like to tell them that remove that fear. ‘Razakars’ cannot make decisions in this country. It has been 75 years since this country got independence,” he said.
Shah credited the country’s first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel for the liberation of Hyderabad and said the erstwhile princely state might not have joined India by 1948, but for the former’s efforts. (PTI)
