Telangana to Mark ‘Praja Palana Dinothsavam’ Amidst Historical and Political Controversies
Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Secretary A. Santhi Kumari, on Thursday, September 12, oversaw preparations for the upcoming ‘Telangana Praja Palana Dinothsavam,’ set to replace the previously observed ‘National Integration Day’ on September 17. This date, historically significant as Hyderabad’s annexation into India, has been rebranded by the BJP-led central government as ‘Hyderabad Liberation Day,’ a term reflecting its right-wing narrative.
Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao will inaugurate the event by hoisting the national flag at Public Gardens, Nampally, following tributes to martyrs at the Telangana Martyrs Memorial at Gun Park. In a meeting at the state secretariat, Santhi Kumari directed top officials to ensure seamless event execution, involving traffic management, road repairs, sanitation, and lighting across key locations such as Raj Bhavan and the High Court.
The rebranding of the day comes amidst political and historical controversies. The BJP, not existent at the time of Hyderabad’s annexation on September 17, 1948, has politicized the event to highlight its narrative of liberation. This move contrasts with earlier observations under the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), which renamed the day to ‘National Integration Day’ in response to BJP pressure.
The annexation, achieved through Operation Polo, is a contentious subject, particularly for the Muslim community due to the violence that ensued. The atrocities, well-documented in the Sunderlal Committee report, involved significant communal violence, resulting in thousands of deaths. The BJP’s current portrayal of the day overlooks the complex historical realities, including the role of the Communist Party of India (CPI) in Telangana’s political landscape during the 1940s.
As the ‘Praja Palana Dinothsavam’ approaches, Telangana’s government seeks to navigate these historical sensitivities while ensuring a smooth and inclusive commemoration of the state’s integration into India.
