Hyderabad, Sept.17 (NSS): TPCC Senior Vice President G.Niranjan today said the Telangana Congress Monitoring group (Telangana Congress Saaradhya Brundam) celebrated the Hyderabad Merger Day at Martyrs Memorial, Ashoka Pillar, Koti, which was built in memory of Martyrs of 1857 sipoy rebellion in Hyderabad.
- Venkateshwar Rao, IAS (Retd), hoisted the National Flag on the occasion. Former PCC president V. Hanumanth Rao, AICC Kisan Congress Vice-Chairman M. Kodanda Reddy, and TPCC Senior Vice President G. Niranjan, offered floral tributes at Martyrs Memorial.
Speaking on the occasion, V. Hanumanth Rao recalled the struggle of the Hyderabad State Congress for the people’s cause and for the Merger of Hyderabad State into Indian Union. They continued their struggle despite restrictions on its activities by then Nizam Government.
Niranjan said the BJP, which was raising loud voice now, was nowhere during that period. Only Congress and Communists took active role. He said now the KCR’s autocratic rule was prevailing in Telangana and the Telangana people once again should launch a struggle to restore democracy in the State.
Niranjan explained about the history of Ashoka Pillar, which was built in Memory of of Martyrs of 1857 Sipoy rebellion and also role played by the Telangana Congress Monitoring group from 2009 to 2014 in bringing pressure upon the Union Government and Congress leadership for granting Statehood for Telangana. He said The State of Hyderabad took place in the map of history of 1857 military rebellion in India against the British government, only because of revolt of Turrebaz Khan, and his colleagues courageously attacked British Residency in Koti on July 17, 1857. As the British force was outnumbered, many lost their lives both the sides.
Turrebaz Khan, who escaped was arrested on July 22, 1857 and sentenced for life. He escaped from the jail on January 18, 1859 and was encountered in the forest area of Toopran on January 24. His body was dragged on the road from Toopran and hanged naked at the gate of British Residency.
Because of the efforts of Late B. Baburao Varma, freedom fighter and president, Telangana Freedom Fighters Forum for Social Justice, the Ashoka Pillar and Martyrs Memorial were preserved for the future generations.
- Kamalakar Rao, former MLC, A. Shyam Mohan, Chairman, TPCC Intellectual cell, P. Rajesh Kumar, Premlal, Nagesh Mudiraj, T. Chandrasekhar, Omprakash Sharma, Moosa Khasim, Ashok Reddy, Dr Shanker and others participated. (NSS)
