Parties gear up to celebrate September 17

Slam TRS for going back on its word the celebrate the occasion officially.

Political parties in Telangana have plans to celebrate September 17, the accession of the State of Hyderabad comprising Telangana region and some parts of present-day Karnataka and Maharashtra to the Indian Union, as “merger (‘vileenam’), liberation (‘vimochanam’) and betrayal (‘vidroham’)” day in different ways.

The Congress, TRS, TDP and CPI observe the day as merger day, while BJP organises it as ‘liberation day.’ A few Left parties commemorate it as betrayal day. Interestingly, the ruling TRS which has been vocal for celebration of September 17 officially, citing its celebration in parts of Karnataka and Maharashtra officially, all through, has now limited the occasion only as a party event.

TRS faulted

Referring to the demand to celebrate September 17 officially, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said on Tuesday that no government in the State had organised it officially in the past. He, however, said that the TRS would celebrate the day to mark the merger of Hyderabad State into the Indian Union across the new State on Wednesday.

The Congress, BJP, CPI and TDP have been demanding that the TRS Government should celebrate September 17 officially and faulted the TRS for changing its stand. President of BJP Telangana unit G. Kishan Reddy said on Tuesday that they had decided to hoist the national flag on Golconda fort to commemorate the occasion.

“We have sought necessary permission from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which protects the fort and are hopeful of getting the nod in time,” Mr. Kishna Reddy told The Hindu , when contacted. The party leaders have decided to gather at Bapughat at 10 a.m. and proceed to Golconda for hoisting the national flag after doing this in the party office at 7.30 am.

CPI too flays TRS

State secretary of CPI Chada Venkat Reddy criticised the government for refusing to celebrate the occasion officially and called the party units in Telangana to hoist the national flag and felicitate those who fought against the Nizam’s rule.

Chairman of Telangana Joint Action Committee Prof. M. Kodandaram on Tuesday felt that the State Government should celebrate the occasion officially by hoisting the national flag on its offices and paying tribute to martyrs. Further, he said it should not be looked on communal lines.

Home Minister Nayini Narsimha Reddy will hoist the national flag at the TRS office as part of the merger day fete and TPCC chief Ponnala Lakshmaiah will do this at Gandhi Bhavan.