States » SouthPosted at: Sep 17 2026 1:04PM


Centre celebrates 79th Hyderabad Liberation Day in grand manner

Hyderabad, Sep 17 (UNI) The union Ministry of Culture on Thursday organised the 79th Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations in a grand manner at Parade Grounds, Secunderabad, commemorating the integration of the erstwhile Hyderabad State with the Indian union on September 17, 1948.
Vice President C P Radhakrishnan, the chief guest, unfurled the National Flag and paid floral tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Earlier, he paid homage to martyrs at the War Memorial and received the guard of honour from the Central Armed Police Forces. Cultural programmes depicting the Hyderabad liberation struggle were also presented.
Addressing the gathering, Mr Radhakrishnan recalled Sardar Patel’s decisive role in integrating the princely states and said Operation Polo, launched on September 13, 1948, concluded with the surrender of the Nizam’s forces on September 17.
He said the Centre had been commemorating Hyderabad Liberation Day since 2022 to honour those who sacrificed their lives and to bring the stories of lesser-known heroes before the younger generation.
The Vice President said the liberation struggle was a people’s movement in which students, intellectuals, writers and ordinary citizens made sacrifices. He stressed that national unity should be strengthened through equal rights, dignity and opportunities for every citizen and reaffirmed the importance of constitutional democracy.
Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla paid tribute to the unsung heroes and martyrs, including tribal leaders, farmers, youth and women, and recalled Sardar Patel’s role in the integration of Hyderabad. He urged the younger generation to remember their sacrifices and uphold unity and democratic values.
Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat paid homage to the known and unknown heroes of the liberation struggle and recalled the contribution of the Jodhpur Lancers and the Indian armed forces during Operation Polo.
He urged people to draw inspiration from the sacrifices of the freedom fighters and contribute towards building a developed India.
Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy questioned the portrayal of the Nizam’s rule as exemplary and referred to the resistance led by figures such as Komaram Bheem and Chakali Ailamma.
He criticised the Congress and BRS over their approach to the history of the liberation struggle and said the Centre’s celebrations were aimed at preserving the sacrifices and historical memory of the period.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar paid tribute to Sardar Patel and those who sacrificed their lives in the struggle. He said the Centre was observing Liberation Day to preserve the history of the Telangana struggle and also highlighted the Modi government’s development initiatives.
Culture Ministry Secretary Vivek Agarwal said Hyderabad Liberation Day had been observed officially every year since 2022 through exhibitions, publications, archival initiatives and cultural programmes to preserve the legacy of freedom fighters and inspire younger generations.
He noted that the erstwhile Hyderabad State covered present-day Telangana, Maharashtra’s Marathwada region and parts of Karnataka, creating a shared historical legacy.
UNI VV ARN
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