Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Khairtabad MLA Dasoju Sravan on Sunday, September 15 alleged that chief minister A Revanth Reddy was distorting history and aligning his views with those of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Sravan criticised Reddy for observing the Praja Palana Dinotsavam on September 17, which coincides with the Hyderabad Liberation Day, observed by the BJP.
“Various political forces interpret the day differently, but Revanth Reddy’s approach stands out for its inconsistency with the Indian National Congress’s traditionally balanced stance and its clear political opportunism,” he said.
“I am wondering if Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and other senior leaders at AICC and TPCC are aware of Revanth Reddy conspicuously attempting to exploit the historical festival by rebranding it as Telangana Praja Palana Dinothsavam,” Sravan said in an open letter to the public.
He has also personally invited prominent BJP leaders such as Amit Shah, Kishan Reddy, and Bandi Sanjay, who do not see eye to eye with Rahul Gandhi nationally. This significant move reflects a deceitful alignment with the BJP, reinforcing the suspicion that he might be preparing to merge with them in the future.
Telangana to celebrate ‘Praja Palana Day’ on September 17
September 17, 1948, is a key date in Telangana’s history. On this day, Hyderabad State, then ruled by the Nizam, was integrated into the Indian Union through Operation Polo. While this event marked the end of feudal rule and the incorporation of Hyderabad into India, it is a contested historical moment. The BJP celebrates it as Hyderabad Liberation Day, emphasising it as an end of the Nizam’s oppressive and tyrannical regime.
The Communists refer to it as “Telangana Betrayal Day” or “Telangana Vidrohadinam.” In contrast, the BRS, as envisioned by BRS supremo K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), marks the day as Telangana National Integration Day, emphasising the traditional culture of Telangana, including Ganga Jamuna Tehzeeb, social harmony, unity, and progress considering the sensitivity around the day.
The Indian National Congress Party has also historically adopted a balanced and reconciliatory approach branding it as Telangana Merger Day (Telangana Vilina Dinam). While acknowledging the hardships endured under Nizam’s rule, Congress has also recognized the violence and suffering caused by the police action following the integration, which left scars on many communities in Telangana. This balanced narrative reflects the Indian National Congress’s desire to maintain social harmony by avoiding the glorification of either side.
Revanth Reddy conveniently forgot the fact that as TPCC president announced in 2022 to organise year-long celebrations of ‘Telangana Vilina Dinam (Merger Day) Vajrotsavalu’ commemorating the accession of Nizam’s Hyderabad State into the Indian Union on September 17 and even demanded the Government of India to sanction Rs 5000 Cr for celebrations. Now only he knows why he is dictatorially renaming and demeaning history.
