Hyderabad police on Sunday, September 6, blocked a planned rally by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from Balapur to the Bhagyalakshmi Temple at Charminar, leading to the detention of party functionaries.
The proposed 'Vimochana Jaitrayatra' was intended as a precursor to Telangana Liberation Day commemorations. Among those taken into custody was Andela Sriramulu Yadav, the BJP's in-charge for the Maheswaram constituency, along with several other party leaders who attempted to proceed with the procession.
The BJP swiftly condemned the denial of permission, accusing the ruling Congress government of stifling democratic expression and patriotic observances. In a social media statement, the Telangana BJP asserted that preventing a rally for Telangana Liberation Day "demonstrates how much it fears democracy and the spirit of patriotism." The party further alleged that the Congress, having previously imposed restrictions on 'Vande Mataram', now obstructs celebrations honoring independence.
Telangana BJP President N Ramchander Rao also voiced strong criticism, questioning the legality of celebrating Telangana Liberation Day under Congress rule. He claimed the Congress had "sunk to deep depths of appeasement" and crushed democracy by stopping the rally and arresting leaders. Rao further alleged on X that the Congress's mindset remained aligned with "Razakar and Nizam DNA," despite the passage of time since 1948, and highlighted ongoing detentions of BJP leaders for various activities.
The BJP is preparing to observe Telangana Liberation Day on September 17, a significant date marking the 1948 integration of the erstwhile Hyderabad State into the Indian Union.
This year, both the Centre and the State government will host separate events. For the fifth consecutive year, the Union government will organize Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations at Parade Grounds in Secunderabad. Vice President C P Radhakrishnan will preside as chief guest, hoisting the National Flag and reviewing a parade by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy are also expected to attend.
Meanwhile, the Telangana government will hold its main state event at the Public Garden in Hyderabad, where Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy will unfurl the National Flag. This marks the third consecutive year the state observes the occasion as 'Telangana Praja Palana Dinotsavam' (People's Governance Day). State ministers and other officials will hoist the National Flag and take salutes at official programs across all 32 district headquarters, as well as in government offices, urban local bodies, and gram panchayats statewide.
The previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government had designated September 17 as 'National Integration Day' in 2022 and 2023. The current Congress government, which took office in December 2023, subsequently renamed the observance to 'Praja Palana Dinotsavam'.
Image for illustration purposes only
đź“° Source: Daijiworld