Telangana BJP Demands Official Observance of September 17 as Liberation Day

The Telangana BJP has served an adjournment motion notice in the Legislative Assembly, demanding that the state government officially observe September 17 as ‘Telangana Liberation Day’ and hold a discussion on the issue in the House.

Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy said the historic significance of September 17 had not received adequate recognition across Telangana compared with neighbouring regions. He made the remarks after reviewing arrangements for the Telangana Liberation Day celebrations at the Parade Grounds in Secunderabad.

Kishan Reddy recalled that September 17, 1948 marked the end of the Nizam’s rule and the integration of the erstwhile Hyderabad State into the Indian Union. He said the occasion would be commemorated on a large scale to remember the events that ended the Nizam’s rule and the repression associated with the Razakars.

The main celebrations this year are scheduled for 8 am at the Parade Grounds in Secunderabad. Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan will attend the programme as the chief guest, while Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and other dignitaries are expected to participate. Kishan Reddy also appealed to people to turn out in large numbers for the event.

He noted that several districts that were once part of the Hyderabad State were later incorporated into Maharashtra. According to Kishan Reddy, Hyderabad Liberation Day is observed in Maharashtra, including during periods when Congress governments were in power, whereas Telangana has not conducted similar celebrations on a statewide basis.

The September 17 observance has carried different official names under successive governments in Telangana. The state government had decided to mark the day as ‘Telangana Praja Palana Dinotsavam’, commemorating the end of Nizam rule and Hyderabad’s integration with India. In 2023, the then BRS government observed it as ‘National Integration Day’.

Meanwhile, the Centre has designated September 17 as ‘Hyderabad Liberation Day’ and issued a gazette notification through the Union Home Ministry.

The events of 1948 were closely linked to Operation Polo, launched by Indian armed forces on September 13 under the leadership of then Union Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The operation faced resistance from the Razakars supporting the Nizam. After five days of military developments, the Nizam’s rule ended and Hyderabad State joined the Indian Union.

The episode continues to be described as ‘liberation’ by some and ‘integration’ by others, reflecting differing interpretations of the historical events.