KTR slams Amit Shah over Hyderabad Liberation Day comment, says Union minister purveying falsehood

He said that it was on this day that Hyderabad merged into the Indian Union and therefore it was observed as national integration day.

ByRaj Rayasam

Published Mar 27, 2023 | 3:55 PMUpdatedMar 27, 2023 | 3:56 PM

Hyderabad liberation day KTR

BRS working president and Telangana Industries Minister KT Rama Rao on Monday, 27 March, took umbrage at Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement that Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao — also his father and BRS chief — was not forthcoming to organise Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations on 17 September.

Taking to Twitter, the BRS leader said that the Union minister was purveying falsehood as Telangana had observed the day as national integration day.

The minister also tweeted news reports recording the celebrations held on that day.

He said that it was on this day that Hyderabad merged with India and therefore it was observed as national integration day.

Also read: SC tags Kavitha’s plea against ED with Nalini Chidambaram matter

National integration day

KTR said, “17th September has been celebrated by Telangana Govt officially as National integration day since Hyderabad state was integrated into Indian union on the same day in 1948 Your blatant misrepresentation is indeed unbecoming of the stature of a Union HM [sic].”

In another tweet, he said: “To those who ask why can’t we call it Liberation Day; Why do we celebrate 15th August as Independence Day and not as Liberation Day? [sic]”

He continued: “What should matter is respectful commemoration of the sacrifices & struggles against oppressors; be it the British or Nizam [sic].”

He ended with the quote: “Stop being a prisoner of the past. Become the Architect of your Future [sic].”

The Union minister, at a public meeting held in Bidar in poll-bound Karnataka on Saturday, accused the Telangana chief minister of not celebrating 17 September as Telangana Liberation Day.

He said that it had not occurred to KCR that he had to pay homage to those who laid down their lives fighting the Nizams.