It is a solitary historical event, but various political perspectives will see parallel events held to commemorate the occasion. The Union government will mark September 17 as Hyderabad Liberation Day, while the Telangana government will mark it as National Integration Day, as the BJP and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) contend for votes in the Telangana assembly elections next year.
Also read: Hyderabad Liberation Day: History and significance
On September 17, 1948, the Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh in the Asaf Jahi dynasty, ceded in the aftermath of Operation Polo, an Indian military invasion of Hyderabad. It is widely assumed to be the day Hyderabad joined the Indian Union. In reality, the accession happened on January 26, 1950, when the Nizam of Hyderabad was appointed Rajpramukh of the state.
Union tourism and culture minister G Kishan Reddy tweeted, “In 1948, Sardar Patel unfurled the Tricolour after Hyderabad merged with the Indian Union. Now, 75 years later, Hon Home Minister AmitShah ji will hoist the national flag and kick off Hyderabad Liberation celebrations as we shed the vestiges of our colonial past & baggage.”
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Eknath Shinde, the chief minister of Maharashtra, and Basavaraj Bommai, the chief minister of Karnataka, have also been invited to the Centre’s Saturday event.
According to Haragopal, a former professor at the University of Hyderabad, the goal of the BJP’s Liberation Day is to convey to its Hindu supporters how the region was liberated from Nizam rule, The Print reported, quoting, “Given their ideology and key vote bank, the BJP wants to remind people that the ruler was a Muslim, how Hyderabad got liberated from a Nizam’s rule, and about the atrocities committed by Razakars.”
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Why Telangana is celebrating Hyderabad Liberation Day as National Integration Day
The TRS government declared September 17 as Integration Day, just hours after All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi wrote to Amit Shah and KCR on September 3.
The KCR government’s three-day celebrations began on September 16 with mass rallies throughout the state.
Meanwhile, AIMIM’s Tiranga rally on motorcycles was led by Hyderabad MP Owaisi today to commemorate National Integration Day.
“Today Hyderabad is observing National Integration Day on the anniversary of erstwhile Hyderabad state’s merger with Union of India. We offered our Friday namaz & started a tiranga bike rally. There will also be a public meeting,” the AIMIM chief tweeted.
According to ThePrint, Owaisi stated in his letter to KCR and Shah, “The struggles of the people of erstwhile Hyderabad state against colonialism, feudalism, and autocracy are a symbol of national Integration rather than merely a case of ‘liberation’ of a piece of land.”
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For years, the BJP has demanded that 17 September be officially recognised as Marathwada Liberation Day in Maharashtra and Hyderabad-Karnataka Liberation Day in Karnataka.
Some areas of the two states were ceded by the former Hyderabad princely state.
The BJP leaders, including Amit Shah, have been criticising the TRS government for not officially commemorating September 17 due to “fear” of the AIMIM.
According to the Indian Express, BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh claims that the TRS was forced to declare September 17 as Telangana National Unity Day in response to the Centre’s commemorative plans.
While the BJP has enhanced its efforts in Telangana in preparation for the state Assembly elections next year, KCR is attempting a nationwide expansion by launching a national party to counter the saffron party.
