Hyderabad: Telangana Liberation Day organised by Union Ministry of Culture was celebrated in a grand manner at Parade Grounds, Secunderabad, here on Saturday.
As a chief guest, Union Home Minister Amit Shah unfurled the National flags and paid rich tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s statue on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Shah said Telangana Liberation Day was not celebrated during the last few years with vote bank politics. The Telangana Liberation Day was officially organized by the Center today. In the past, all parties were afraid to hold Liberation Day. With the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Centre organised Telangana Liberation Day celebrations in a grand manner this year, he said.
Wishing the people of Telanagna on Liberation Day, the Union Home Minister said many great people had sacrificed their lives for the freedom of Hyderabad. He recalled that the Jallianwala Bagh type incident took place in Gundrampally. He said Telangana was liberated with the Police action by Sardar Vallabhabhai Patel.
He recalled that the Nizamsena and Rajakars were chased away and brought independence to the state of Hyderabad. Shah said the Nizam had turned his head with Patel’s Operation Polo. After 13 months of Indian Independence, Telangana got its independence on September 17, 1948, he added.
Paying tributes to many freedom fighters including Komaram Bheem, Shah said it is the duty to remember all those warriors on the occasion of Telangana Liberation Day.
Amit Shah revealed that many people sacrificed their lives for the freedom of Hyderabad. He said countless atrocities were committed against women during the Nizam’s rule. He said Nizam’s soldiers and Razakars committed murders and rapes of women in villages.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said today is the day when the city of Hyderabad was freed from the cruel rule of the Nizam.
He said liberation came to Telangana only with the initiative of Sardar Patel. Marathwada liberation struggle programs would be organized in Sambhajinagar every year. Shinde also paid tribute to those who laid down their lives for liberation of Telangana.
Earlier, Union Minister Amit Shah received an Army salute. Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, Karnataka Minister Sree Ramulu also spoke on the occasion.
Government officials, Several BJP leaders and a large number of people participated in the programme.
Later cultural programmes were held.
