Hyderabad police intervened on Sunday, preventing a planned rally by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from Balapur to the Bhagyalakshmi Temple at Charminar. This action occurred just days before Telangana Liberation Day, scheduled for September 17, and led to the detention of several party members, including Andela Sriramulu Yadav, the BJP's in-charge for the Maheswaram constituency.
The BJP swiftly condemned the denial of permission for its 'Vimochana Jaitrayatra'. A social media post from the party's Telangana unit asserted that the Congress government's decision demonstrated its fear of democracy and patriotism, linking it to previous restrictions on 'Vande Mataram' and now obstructing independence celebrations. N. Ramchander Rao, the Telangana BJP President, questioned the legality of celebrating Telangana Liberation Day under Congress rule. On 'X', he accused the Congress of appeasement and crushing democracy by stopping the rally and arresting leaders. Rao further criticized the Congress mindset as being stuck in "Razakar and Nizam DNA" due to its "rampant vote-bank politics," claiming BJP leaders face detention for various activities, even for commemorating this significant day.
Telangana Liberation Day, observed on September 17, marks the 1948 annexation of the erstwhile Hyderabad State into the Indian Union. Both the Central and State governments are preparing to celebrate the occasion, albeit with differing approaches.
For the fifth consecutive year, the Centre will host its 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 the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy will also attend.
Concurrently, the State government, under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, will unfurl the National Flag at the main event in Hyderabad's Public Garden. This marks the third consecutive year the state observes it as 'Telangana Praja Palana Dinotsavam' (people's governance day). State ministers, advisors, and representatives will conduct official celebrations, including flag hoisting and salutes, across all 32 district headquarters. All government offices, urban local bodies, and gram panchayats will also unfurl the National Flag. While the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government designated September 17 as 'National Integration Day' in 2022 and 2023, the Congress, which assumed power in December 2023, chose to celebrate it as 'Praja Palana Dinotsvam'.
Image for illustration purposes only
đź“° Source: Mangalorean News