Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Friday, 2 June, kicked off the 21-day-decennial celebrations of Telangana Formation Day, by first offering tributes to the Telangana Martyrs at their memorial at Gun Park in front of the state Assembly and then addressing a public meeting at the BR Ambedkar state Secretariat.
The celebrations got off to a grand start with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeting the people on the occasion.
Related: KCR announces 3-week Telangana Formation Day celebrations
‘Committed to the development of Telangana’
KCR, after unfurling the national flag at the state Secretariat, recalled his nine-year journey as the chief minister in translating the promises he had made at the Parade Grounds on this day in 2014 that he would transform the nascent Telangana into a state of plenty, allowing the fruits of developments to reach all sections of people.
“On that day I made a promise that I would remain committed to the development of Telangana. I had said that Telangana would emerge as a role model for the entire country. In a matter of nine years, I had ensured 100 years of development,” he said.
“The BRS knows the aspirations of the people since it was with them all through the turbulent days of the Telangana movement. The manifesto that we had brought out reflected their aspirations and ambitions,” he added.
KCR said the history of the Telangana movement was one of a relentless struggle for freedom from exploitation. Ever since Andhra Pradesh was formed in 1956, exploitation of Telangana had begun.
“In 1969, this exploitation triggered the separate Telangana movement, and I am happy that I had the opportunity to take part in the second phase of the movement that preceded the formation of the state in 2014,” he said.
The second phase of the Telangana movement, though intense, was devoid of violence.
The movement had its moorings in the insight of how it should move forward for the fulfilment of its objective. People from various walks of life had taken part in the movement, he recalled.
“Several people had laid down their lives and the BRS government always kept their contribution to the movement in mind,” KCR said.
Also read: KCR has given up efforts to unite the Opposition, says KTR
Lists out achievements
He said though it was nine years since the formation of Telangana, in actual terms, one has to exclude three years as no development was possible on account of Covid-19.
Even then, with steely resolve, the state government kept pushing the envelope to reach new frontiers in development, he added.
“The result is before for all to see. It is a modern Telangana now. The Telangana model of development is something the entire nation and even the world is looking at with awe.”
Substantiating his argument, he gave a broad outline of the development and welfare programmes that he had initiated in his nine-year stint as the chief minister of the state.
“My motto has been very simple. Let us create wealth and distribute it among the people. This has ushered Telangana into a golden age,” said the chief minister.
Reeling off statistics, he said the per capita income which was ₹1.24 lakh in 2014 had risen by leaps and bounds to ₹3.17 lakh now.
The state had achieved commendable progress on all development indices, he said, adding that power cuts have become things of the past and the state has ample irrigation sources now.
Here is an inspiring story of the youngest State from India. Telangana, that delivered a century of development in less than a decade!
The Telangana growth model envisioned by Chief Minister Sri K. Chandrashekar Rao went beyond solutions and secured the lives of its people. The… pic.twitter.com/f8jHBX41Jl
— Telangana CMO (@TelanganaCMO) June 2, 2023
Also read: Railways to lay off lines to run super-fast trains in Telangana
President, PM extend wishes
The President tweeted: “My greetings to the people of Telangana on Statehood Day! Endowed with forests and wildlife, Telangana is also uniquely blessed with a rich cultural heritage and talented people. This beautiful state is emerging as a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship. My best wishes for the continued growth and prosperity of Telangana,” Murmu tweeted.
My greetings to the people of Telangana on Statehood Day! Endowed with forests and wildlife, Telangana is also uniquely blessed with a rich cultural heritage and talented people. This beautiful state is emerging as a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship. My best wishes for the…
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 2, 2023
The Prime Minister in his message said: “On the Formation Day of Telangana, my greetings to the people of this wonderful state. The skills of its people and the richness of its culture are greatly admired. I pray for the well-being and prosperity of Telangana.”
On the Formation Day of Telangana, my greetings to the people of this wonderful state. The skills of its people and the richness of its culture are greatly admired. I pray for the well-being and prosperity of Telangana.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 2, 2023
Celebrations at Golconda Fort
Rivalling the state government’s celebrations, the Centre too organised Telangana Formation Day celebrations at Golconda Fort in Hyderabad.
Union Tourism and Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy launched the festivities as the BJP claims that it also had contributed to the formation of Telangana state.
Kishan Reddy utilised the occasion to wash the BRS’ dirty linen in public, saying the state was being ruled by a family which is steeped in a quagmire of corruption.
Celebrating the Spirit of Telangana!
Unfurled the Tiranga at the Golkonda fort at the inauguration ceremony of two-day festivities commemorating the 10th Telangana Formation Day.#TelanganaFormationDay #Golconda pic.twitter.com/AJSQnlNfpg
— G Kishan Reddy (@kishanreddybjp) June 2, 2023
TPCC celebration at Gandhi Bhavan
On a lesser note, the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) organised celebrations at Gandhi Bhavan, its headquarters in Hyderabad.
Former Speaker of Lok Sabha Meira Kumar took part in the celebrations as the chief guest after paying tributes to Martyrs at their memorial at Gun Park and to the Babu Jagjivan Ram statue.
Later, Meira Kumar, speaking on the occasion said: “For the fulfilment of the objectives for which Telangana state was created by Congress, the party has to come to power in the state.”
In fact, the Congress argues that the credit for the formation of the Telangana state should go to party matriarch Sonia Gandhi, without whose consent, the wish for a separate state would have remained a pipe dream forever.
తెలంగాణ రాష్ట్రాన్ని ఇచ్చి కోట్ల మంది స్వరాష్ట్ర కాంక్షకు ఆయువు పోసిన తల్లి సోనియమ్మకు పాలాభిషేకం చేసి ధన్యవాదాలు తెలిపిన ఎఐసిసి జాతీయ కార్యదర్శి శ్రీ నదీమ్ జావేద్ గారు మరియు టిపిసిసి వర్కింగ్ ప్రెసిడెంట్ శ్రీ అంజన్ కుమార్ యాదవ్ గారు.
📍 గాంధీ భవన్, హైదరాబాద్.@nadeeminc… pic.twitter.com/zqqZ4dZneH— Telangana Congress (@INCTelangana) June 2, 2023
Interestingly, Telangana TDP also organised the celebrations at NTR Trust Bhavan. TDP is always seen with suspicion as regards its credential on the formation of Telangana state.
BRS takes the centre stage
As the BRS was in power in the state, it stole a march over BJP and Congress in organising the festivities.
In fact, KCR had taken the celebrations as a prestige issue and had been reviewing the progress on preparations with officials at the state secretariat over the last fortnight.
He evinced keen interest in themes for each day of the celebrations all over the state.
The city and the government offices have been decked up for the three-week-long celebrations.
KCR wants these celebrations to remain a memorable event capturing the soul of Telangana.
As elections are not very far, he appears keen on not letting the people forget the role he and the BRS had played in getting the separate Telangana state.
Since the imposing lantern-shaped martyrs memorial built on the Tank Bund is scheduled to be unveiled on the last day of celebrations on 23 June, KCR drove to Gun Park and paid tributes to the martyrs at their memorial for sacrificing their lives in the Telangana movement that rocked the state in 1969.
తెలంగాణ రాష్ట్ర అవతరణ దినోత్సవం సందర్భంగా గన్ పార్క్ లోని అమరవీరుల స్థూపం వద్ద నివాళులు అర్పించిన ముఖ్యమంత్రి శ్రీ కె. చంద్రశేఖర్ రావు.#తెలంగాణదశాబ్దిఉత్సవాలు#TelanganaTurns10 #TelanganaFormationDay pic.twitter.com/zV93Sk6iZ0
— Telangana CMO (@TelanganaCMO) June 2, 2023
