Hyderabad: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday is the chief guest at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government’s ‘Hyderabad Liberation Day’ celebrations. He arrived in the city on Friday, where he was received by Union minister for culture G Kishan Reddy.
Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde, Karnataka transport minister Ballari Sriramulu and former Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu were also present at the event.
Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) will also mark September 17 under the name of “National Integration Day.” He hoisted the national flag and addressed a gathering at Central Lawns in Nampally’s Public Gardens, situated only a few kilometres away from Parade Grounds.
Live Updates:
6:15 pm– Shah visits the Martyrs’ memorial at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (to pay tributes to the brave martyrs who laid down their lives in the line of duty.
5:00 pm– Celebrating PM Modi’s birthday as Seva Diwas, Amit Shah met the children and the families of the disabled and distributed resources.
3:55 pm- Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the residence of Telangana MP from Huzurabad Eatala Rajender to pay his respects to the latter’s deceased father.
3:30 pm- Union Home Minister Amit Shah met with key leaders of BJP Telangana and directed the ranks on the steps to be taken to strengthen BJP in the state.
2:55 pm- “I request all my Divyang brothers and sisters to pray for the long healthy life of our Prime Minister. Please pray that his dream of a prosperous India is realised,” he requested of the audience.
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2:50 pm- “Our dear Prime Minister, who has brought us worldwide respect, is celebrating his birthday today. In his name, everyone is doing social work in his name. Modi ji’s entire life has been spent providing for the needy. He bought so many schemes into the country for the poor. Along with this, he also provided the name ‘Divyang’ to allow them to live with self-respect,” said Amit Shah.
“Now people who used to look at the physically handicapped with pity, they are now viewing them with respect.”
2:40 pm– Union Home Minister Amit Shah distributes free Divyang aids and appliances to physically handicapped citizens.
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10:30 am- Union Home Minister Amit Shah leaves the venue.
10:24 am- “The Razakars imposed many arbitrary laws to suppress the people of three regions and spread fear. The Nizams tried to crush people and many people lost their lives,” Amit Shah said.
10:20 am– “It was the police action by Sardar Patel that led to the liberation of Hyderabad. From 13th September to 17th September for 109 hours, many braves sacrificed their lives.”
10:14 am- “There was a demand of the region that Hyderabad Liberation Day is celebrated with the approval of the government. But unfortunately, 75 years gone by, those who ruled here did not dare to celebrate Hyderabad Liberation Day because of vote bank politics,” Amit Shah remarked.
10:05 am- “The people of the state wanted to officially celebrate Hyderabad Liberation day. Different political leaders promised to celebrate the day. However, once in power, they refused to celebrate the day due to vote bank politics,” he added.
10:00 am– Union home minister Amit Shah addresses the gathering. “In August 1947 India got freedom, however, Hyderabad state was still ruled by Nizam. For the next 13 months, the people of the state had to bear the tyranny of the Razakars of Nizam,” he said.
9:55 am– Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde takes the stage. “This is a golden page in the books of history of Maharashtra, Telangana, and Karnataka,” he said.
9:50 am– Karnataka minister for transport, Ballari Sriramulu, talks about the importance of liberation for Hyderabad and Karnataka. Chief minister Basavaj Bommai, who was slated to attend the event in Hyderabad, is presiding over ‘Kalyana Karnataka Utsav’ in Kalaburagi.
9:39 am– “Sardar Vallabhai Patel sent the military to the land of Telangana and defeated the Nizams and Razakars. As part of Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav, today we are able to celebrate this special event. ‘That party’ (referring to Telangana Rashtra Samithi) did not celebrate this event under Congress rule, or under Telugu Desam Party’s rule. But today, the power of bringing them down from their arrogance is the proof of the central government’s and Amit Shah’s power,” said Kishan Reddy.
“It does not matter what the event is called. This is the people’s victory. The central government decided to listen to the people and celebrate the event. I am happy that the day is being given the respect it is due.”
9:30 am– Union minister for tourism and culture G Kishan Reddy addresses the gathering and welcomes everyone at the venue. “I hope that the souls of those who fought against the Nizam rule in Hyderabad and were martyred, who were victims of the violence and cruelty of the Nizams, rest in peace,” he said.
“I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi with all my heart, for under his guidance, today’s event has been organised to pay respect to the martyrs. I salute them all on the behalf of the Indian government.”
8:57 am– Parade starts.
8:54 am- Union Home Minister Amit Shah pays tributes to Sardar Vallabhai Patel.
8:52 am- Union Home Minister Amit Shah conducts the flag-hoisting ceremony.
8:50 am- Union Home Minister Amit Shah enters the venue.
