Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao both unfurled the tricolour at two separate events on Saturday, 17 September, to mark 75 years of Hyderabad's merger with the Union of India.
While the home minister unfurled the national flat at Secunderabad's Parade Ground to mark "Hyderabad State Liberation Day," the Telangana CM hoisted it a few kilometres away at the Public Gardens to celebrate "Telangana National Unity Day."
Shah took a swipe at those who had "turned back" on celebrating the day due to vote bank politics and the "fear" of Razakars, while Rao said "communal forces" are trying to divide the society and spread hatred among people.
"I bow to the martyrs and the brave warriors, who fought valiantly against the atrocities of Razakars under the cruel Nizam rule to merge Hyderabad into the Union of India," Shah said on Twitter.
Vote Bank Politics, Says Shah
At the event, Shah said, "Unfortunately, 75 years are over and those who ruled this place could not dare celebrate Hyderabad Liberation Day due to vote bank politics," in an apparent dig at the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).
"So many people have promised during elections, agitations that they would celebrate the Liberation Day. But when they came to power, due to the fear of Razakars they turned back," he added.
"They celebrate, but not as Hyderabad Liberation day, they still have fear. I want to tell them, remove fear from your heart and Razakars cannot take decisions for this country as it got independence 75 years ago."Amit Shah, India's home minister
Shah paid floral tributes to India's first home minister, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, who had unfurled the tricolour after Hyderabad, under the leadership of the Nizam, merged with India on this day in 1948.
"If not for Sardar Patel, Hyderabad would have taken more years to get liberated and he knew that as long as Nizam's Razakars could not be defeated, the dream of Akhand Bharat will not be fulfilled," he said.
Polluting History for Political Interests, Says Rao
The TRS slammed Shah, saying that his participation in the celebrations was in line with the "divisive agenda" of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This is the first time the Centre celebrated 17 September as "Hyderabad Liberation Day."
At the 'Telangana National Unity Day' event, CM Rao said if religious fanaticism grows, it will destroy the very life of the nation and result in deterioration of human relationships.
"They plant thorns in societal relations for their narrow interests. They are spreading hatred among people with their venomous comments. This kind of division between people is in no way justified," he added.
Rao charged the "disruptive forces," which he said have no connection with the historic events of 17 September, with distorting the occasion and polluting Telangana's history to fulfil their narrow and selfish political interests.
“The insidious efforts of these evil and corrupt forces, which are trying to sever the fabric of the nation, must be thwarted. I warn you once again that there is a danger that the society will be thrown into turmoil even if it is forgotten in a blink of an eye,” Rao said.
TRS MLC K Kavitha said that "Going by their usual and repetitive script and formula of “Election-Celebration”, the BJP is trying to hijack ‘Hyderabad Integration Day’ celebrations in the state.
Meanwhile, several posters were seen across the state, accusing the Centre of "ignoring" Telangana and Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai of corruption.
One of the posters read, "Modi sarkar gives Rs 300 crore for 60 years of Goa Liberation Day. Zero for Telangana National Liberation Day. Amit Shah ji on 17 September, can you announce for Telangana too?"
(With inputs from PTI.)
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