WARANGAL: Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of twisting the facts about Hyderabad liberation struggle, CPI district general secretary T. Srinivasa Rao on Friday said it was the BJP which was opposed to giving pensions to freedom fighters.
“It was the Communist party that motivated the people to fight against the Nizam’s rule and played a pivotal role in bringing freedom to the land. The BJP is only taking up this issue for its political gains,” he said.
Mr Rao alleged that it was only because of the BJP that 90 per cent of freedom fighters were not receiving pension today.
“The Ch. Rajeshwar Rao committee recommended the Central government to give pension to the Telangana freedom fighters, but the then Union minister Ch. Vidyasagar Rao opposed it. The BJP does not even have the moral right to speak about Hyderabad freedom fighters. What has the BJP done so far for them?” he asked.
Mr Rao said that even as the country attained Independence on August 15, 1947, the Razakaars, led by Khasim Razvi, treated the people like slaves and tortured them.
He reminded that the CPI decided to stand up against the atrocious rule and leaders like Raavi Narayana Reddy, Maqdoom Mohiuddin and Baddam Ella Reddy called for the armed struggle.
“With the support of the Nizams, the landlords, deshmukhs and zamindars looted the people. Only under the guidance of the Communist party were the people able to revolt. Because of martyrs like Doddi Komuraiah and 4,500 others, the Nizam surrendered to Indian army and Hyderabad state could attain freedom. The BJP was not even born during that time but its leaders are now beating the drums about the Telangana Armed Struggle,” Mr Rao said.
