People are free to take out rallies on September 17: K Chandrasekhar Rao

Hyderabad: The state government will not restrict the public from celebrating September 17 as Telangana Liberation Day, or as a day when people of the state were sabotaged (Vidroha Dinam) or as whatever they want, in their own style, said Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

Speaking in the state Assembly on Sunday, Mr Rao said that September 17, 1948, was a day of transformation of Telangana region from autocracy to democracy.

“Before that day, a huge horrifying incident took place where thousands of people from the region were massacred for protesting against the merger of the region in the Union of India. It was the time when the Telangana region suffered and underwent a huge trauma,” said the CM.

Though, the TRS party hoists the national flag at the party office on September 17 every year, we consider the liberation of the state to be achieved on June 2, 2014, he said.

Some sections of people call it Telangana Vidroha Dinam (Day of Betrayal) and some call it Vileena Dinam (Day of Merger). Everybody has a right to consider and celebrate the day as they wish, and they can take out rallies by applying for prior permission from the concerned authorities and they would be allowed accordingly. No restrictions would be imposed, said the CM.

“We do not want to recollect the horrifying incidents that took place, which includes the massacre of thousands of people from the region. Former state home minister Naini Narasimha Reddy’s father Naini Devaiah was killed during the agitation protesting the merger of the Telangana region into the Union of India,” said the Chief Minister.