War Veterans Oppose Shifting Of WWII Memorial
All India Ex-Servicemen Service Council ex-president and former Colonel Sunkara Srinivasa Rao objected to the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) decision to shift the memorial based on the HMDA’s proposal.
HYDERABAD: Opposing the proposed relocation of the nearly 80-year-old World War II Memorial in Secunderabad to make way for an elevated corridor, Indian Army and Air Force veterans staged a protest here on Saturday.
All India Ex-Servicemen Service Council ex-president and former Colonel Sunkara Srinivasa Rao objected to the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) decision to shift the memorial based on the HMDA’s proposal. Citing documents, he said the SCB meeting on October 6 approved moving the memorial from GLR Survey No. 701 to GLR Survey No. 712.
He pointed out that during a High Court hearing on October 5, the State government counsel had assured there was no proposal to demolish the memorial. However, official records showed the SCB approved the relocation the next day, raising concern.
Veterans said the pillar was not merely a structure but a symbol of Secunderabad’s military heritage. Relocating it, they argued, would undermine its historical identity. They suggested the elevated corridor be built on vacant defence land near Gymkhana grounds, opposite the memorial.
Legal notices have been served to the SCB and HMDA, and the veterans warned of legal action if steps were taken to shift the monument. They appealed to the government, HMDA and SCB to preserve the memorial at its current site.