Vice President Radhakrishnan to Lead Telangana Liberation Day Event in Secunderabad

Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan will be the chief guest at the Telangana Liberation Day celebrations organised by the Centre at the Parade Grounds in Secunderabad on September 17. The event will include a parade by paramilitary forces and cultural programmes.

Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, Union Ministers G. Kishan Reddy (Coal and Mines), Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (Tourism and Culture) and Bandi Sanjay Kumar (Minister of State for Home Affairs), along with senior BJP leaders, are expected to take part.

Ahead of the programme, Mr. Kishan Reddy inspected the arrangements on Tuesday, accompanied by State BJP president N. Ramchander Rao and other party leaders. He said the celebrations were meant to honour the freedom fighters who laid down their lives during the struggle against the Nizam's rule, and to recognise the aspirations of the local people. He alleged that previous governments had not given the occasion due importance and urged the public to attend in large numbers.

Other BJP leaders criticised the Congress government and the earlier BRS regime, accusing them of diluting the significance of the day for vote-bank reasons. Speaking at the release of a book titled "September 17 - Telangana Vimochana Dinamu", authored by Osmania University professor G. Laxman, Mr. Ramchander Rao stressed the need to educate younger generations about the history of Hyderabad State's integration with the Indian Union.

He noted that many young people were unaware that while India became independent in 1947, the erstwhile Hyderabad State, including the Telangana region, remained under the Nizam until its integration in September 1948. The history of the liberation struggle, he said, should be conveyed to students in a simple and factual manner. He expressed hope that the book would help young readers grasp the significance of September 17, and accused Congress governments of corruption, saying the BJP would continue to fight such practices.

Rajya Sabha member K. Laxman alleged that successive governments had failed to adequately highlight the liberation struggle and honour intellectuals who contributed to public movements in the State. He also accused the Congress government of irregularities in land transactions involving public land, and called on people to draw inspiration from freedom fighters such as Chakali Ailamma in safeguarding public interests.