Revanth Reddy’s Praise of Nizam Rule Sparks Sharp Criticism From BJP Leaders

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s repeated characterization of the Nizam as “one of the best rulers and an exceptional administrator,” citing growth in industry, agriculture, education and medical sectors in that period, at a time the state and Central governments are observing integration and liberation celebrations on September 17, has drawn strong criticism from Union ministers G. Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, as well as BJP state president N. Ramchander Rao.

At an official function to mark September 17 as ‘Liberation Day’, organised by the Centre at the Parade Ground, Kishan Reddy came down heavily on the Chief Minister for reportedly praising the Nizam’s rule and posed a series of questions. He asked the Chief Minister to explain why great freedom fighters like Vandemataram Ramchander Rao, Swami Ramananda Tirtha, Chakali Ilamma, Narayan Rao Pawar, Arutla Ramachandra Reddy, Maqdoom Moinuddin, Bhagya Reddy Varma, Kaloji Narayan Rao, Komaram Bheem and thousands of others fought and sacrificed their lives if the Nizam was a good ruler. Kishan Reddy also asked why the Indian government had conducted ‘Operation Polo’ if the Nizam was a beneficial ruler.

Charging that the Nizam’s legacy had transferred to Congress and BRS leaders, Kishan Reddy urged people to stop this kind of `wicked’ approach by the leaders and expressed confidence that the days have neared to put an end to government doing `ji huzoor’ to Majlis leaders, and every village and school would proudly celebrate Hyderabad Liberation Day.

Kishan Reddy pointed out that the Germans had never made attempts to hide historical incidents like the dictatorial rule of Adolf Hitler and atrocities by the Nazis, but the leaders of BRS and Congress were attempting to cover up the atrocities of the Razakars — a private paramilitary militia led by Qasim Rizvi — which committed widespread massacres, sexual violence, looting and arson against villagers, Arya Samaj members, and those favoring liberation from the Nizam’s rule and merger with the Indian Union.

Sanjay asked the Chief Minister to disclose to the people why tribal leader Ramji Gond and roughly 1,000 of his rebel supporters were executed from a banyan tree in Nirmal in 1860 or why the Parakala massacre in Warangal district took place, if the Nizams were good ruers.

Slamming the Congress and BRS for praising the autocratic rule of the Nizam and the atrocities of the Razakars as shameful, BJP state president Ramchander Rao strongly objected to Revanth Reddy’s reported praise of the Nizam’s rule and asked how he could forget the Bairanpally carnage and the horrific atrocities committed against women during the Nizam-Razakar regime. He said it was shameful that the BRS and Congress refered to this historical day as “Integration Day” for vote-bank politics. He stated that the bloodshed and struggle of the people of the Hyderabad State against the autocratic Nizam rule and Razakar atrocities could not be diluted by merely using the word “Integration”. He demanded that, to ensure future generations know the sacrifices of these legends and the historical truths of the struggle, this chapter must be appropriately included in history textbooks.