Only Congress Deserves Credit For Hyderabad’s Merger: Uttam

·TPCC Chief leads Hyderabad Merger Day celebrations at Gandhi Bhavan

·BJP, TRS, MIM are trying to communalise Hyderabad’s merger: Uttam

·Uttam asks party cadre to fight unitedly to restore democracy in Telangana

Hyderabad, September 17 (Hydnow): Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President & MP Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has alleged that the BJP, TRS and MIM were trying to distort and communalise the history of Hyderabad’s Merger with the Indian Union.

Speaking after hosting the national flag at Gandhi Bhavan on the 72nd anniversary of Hyderabad Merger Day at Gandhi Bhavan on Thursday, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that only Congress and Communist parties have struggled for Hyderabad’s merger with Indian Union. He said BJP or its predecessors did not participate in the struggle against Nizam’s Rule. Infact, BJP did not even exist when Congress leaders were struggling against the Nizam’s Rule. However, today BJP leaders were trying to communalise Hyderabad’s Merger with Indian Union by calling it a ‘liberation’ by distorting the history. Similarly, he said TRS and MIM too were trying to communalise the history for political gains. “They are trying to make an issue out of Hyderabad Merger Day’s celebration while the fact is Congress party has been celebrating the occasion since 1949 without any hue and cry,” he said.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the last Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan had refused to join Hyderabad State with the Indian Union and wanted to either join Pakistan or stay independent. But his plans were foiled when the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabh Patel merged Hyderabad State with Indian Union through Operation Polo. “Several Congress leaders and Communist leaders have made several sacrifices in the struggle against Nizam’s Rule. The Congress party only recognised their struggle, but also honoured them by extending all the benefits of freedom fighters. BJP leaders are not even aware of the real history. But they are trying to distort the history to draw political mileage,” he said.

The TPCC chief said it was the Congress party which brought independence for the country, merged Hyderabad State with Indian Union and also created Telangana State. “Parties like BJP, TRS and MIM always try to take credit for other’s achievements,” he said while citing the instance of Telangana formation. He said that the Congress party granted statehood for Telangana by giving a huge political sacrifice. However, he said that the TRS first lured the common people with false promise and later cheated them by not fulfilling any of the assurances. “Except for the Kalvakuntla family, no one gained from Telangana formation. Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao cheated the SCs by promising the CM’s post for a Dalit leader. He did not honour the promise of giving three acres of land to poor Dalit and Girijan families. Muslims and STs were cheated on the promise of 12% reservation in jobs and reservation. Lakhs of homeless poor families were duped with the promise of giving 2BHK houses,” he alleged.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the present KCR regime has pushed democracy and its institutions in danger. The TRS regime did not follow the principles of social justice causing unrest and imbalance in the society. “Congress always respected democracy and ensured social justice. As advised by the new AICC Incharge, Manickam Tagore, we will go forward as a strong team and restore democracy in Telangana,” he said.

The TPCC Chief advised the party cadre to focus on winning forthcoming by-polls in Dubbak and municipal elections for Greater Hyderabad, Warangal and Khammam municipal corporations. He said all efforts would be made to win MLC elections for Nalgonda, Warangal, Khammam Graduates Constituency.

CLP leader Bhatti Vikramarka, MLC T. Jeevan Reddy, TPCC Working President J. Kusum Kumar, former PCC Presidents V. Hanumantha Rao and Ponnala Lakshmaiah and other senior leaders were also present on the occasion. Later, Uttam Kumar Reddy also participated in the Hyderabad Merger’s Day celebrations at Ashoka Pillar, Kothi and paid rich tributes to the martyrs of Hyderabad Struggle. (Hydnow)