Hyderabad, Sep 17 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said on Thursday that the state will neither forget the history nor stop at history alone. He called for building a modern Telangana with the spirit of the past struggles.
“We will not forget history. We shall not stop at history alone. Let us build a modern Telangana with the spirit of the past struggles,” he said in his speech on the occasion of ‘Praja Palana Dinotsavam’ (People’s Governance Day).
The Chief Minister hoisted the National Flag at Public Garden here and paid tributes to Telangana martyrs to mark September 17, which marks the accession of the princely State of Hyderabad to the Indian Union.
He noted that Telangana is the land that raised a voice of defiance against generations of oppression, exploitation, feudalism and hegemonic rule. It is the birthplace of warriors who sacrificed their lives in the fight against autocratic rulers, he said.
The Chief Minister said that September 17 holds a special place in that long history of struggle. India attained freedom on August 15, 1947. However, the then Hyderabad State remained under the rule of the Nizam. Hyderabad State comprised Telangana as well as certain regions of present Maharashtra and Karnataka States.
“During the Nizam's rule, Hyderabad achieved significant growth in Industry, Agriculture, Education, and medical sectors and also gained global recognition. At the same time, rural Telangana was plagued by intense feudal exploitation, bonded labour, and oppression. The atrocities committed by the Razakars threw the people into turmoil and deep struggle in the final phase,” CM Revanth Reddy said.
He pointed out that recognising the aspirations and respecting the movements of the people of Hyderabad, the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel enforced military action known as 'Operation Polo'. Following Operation Polo, the seventh Nizam surrendered to the Government of India.
“On September 17, 1948, the Hyderabad State officially became an integral part of India. It is a significant day that marked not only the end of the Nizam's rule but also a historic moment that paved the way for the transition from monarchical rule to democratic governance. It is the main reason we are celebrating September 17 as "Praja Palana Dinotsavam" (People's Governance Day). The people's governance means giving importance to the voice of the people, resolving their issues, protecting rights, ensuring that government resources reach everyone, and creating an environment where every individual lives with self-respect,” he said.
The Chief Minister stated that many movements and sacrifices marked the journey leading up to the merger of the Hyderabad State with India. The Telangana history conveys a clear message that governance should reach the doorsteps of the people.
“The hopes and aspirations of the people must serve as the benchmark for all government decisions. We are running a people-centric administration upholding the Telangana spirit and prioritizing self-respect of the people. Today, Telangana is competing not only with neighbouring states but with the entire world.”
He noted that the Telangana state's Per Capita Income recorded a tremendous growth of Rs 4,18,931, nearly 91 per cent higher than the national average. Our main goal is to ensure that development is reflected not in statistics but in the actual lives of the people, he said.
CM Revanth Reddy also listed the measures taken by his government for the welfare of various sections of people.
“Our goal is not only to meet today's needs but to build the Telangana of tomorrow. The people's government formulated plans to achieve the objectives of the 'Telangana Rising Vision 2047.' We resolved to transform Telangana into a three-trillion-US dollar economy by 2047. Measures have been taken to increase Telangana's share of the national GDP to 10 per cent. We are developing 'Bharat Future City' -- the country's first net-zero smart city -- spanning approximately 30,000 acres.”
He announced that the state government will unveil the master plan for Future City during the 'Invest Telangana Global Summit-2026,' scheduled in December.
--IANS
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