Refer to Sep 17 as ‘National Integration Day’ instead of mere ‘Liberation Day’, demands Owaisi
He also demanded that the names of Muslim freedom fighters Maulvi Allauddin and Turrebaaz Khan who died fighting the British in the erstwhile Hyderabad state be recognised.
Hyderabad: AIMIM Supremo and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao demanding that the celebrations of Hyderabad Liberation Day should instead be celebrated under the title of National Integration Day.
He also said that the AIMIM party will participate in the Centre-led celebrations only when the event is renamed National Integration Day and not liberation day.
“The common Hindus and Muslims of erstwhile Hyderabad state were advocates of a united India under a democratic, secular and republican government. This is also reflected in the Sunderlal Committee report. The Committee was appointed by the Government of India to report on the situation after the merger of Hyderabad. The Committee also found that mass violence was committed against common Muslims living in these territories. I have attached the report for your perusal.
The struggles of the people of the erstwhile Hyderabad state against colonialism, feudalism and autocracy are a symbol of national integration rather than merely a case of “liberation” of a piece of land,” Owaisi wrote in the letter to Amit Shah.
In a similar letter to KCR, the AIMIM chief suggested a celebration be organised at University Women’s College, Koti. “The building was once the British Residency and was subject to a daring attack by Maulvi Alauddin and Turrebaz Khan on 17th July 1857. Maulvi Alauddin was the first prisoner of Kaala Paani (Andaman Cellular Jail) and Turrebaz Khan was perhaps one of the first martyrs of India’s War of Independence,” Owaisi said.
In the press conference, he said that what happened was the integration of princely states which were under the rule of Autocratic rulers like the Nizam of Hyderabad and the event happened because the people of the region were in support of the move.
“We have never opposed the celebration. There is no proof of any AIMIM leader who spoke in opposition to the celebration. You have to understand the history of Hyderabad. In it, the report of Pandit Sunderlal and Qazi Abdul Gaffar is also present. No individual is unhappy that our region is part of the Indian Union. People who weren’t happy left the country and those who love the land stayed back. The Government of India is celebrating the event for the first time.. isn’t it? Were they sleeping for the last eight years?” he asked.
Owaisi also announced that the AIMIM party will also organise a motorcycle ‘Tiranga’ rally in Hyderabad on September 16 to commemorate the same. “All party members including MLAs, MLCs and corporators of the party along with me will participate in the rally. We will organise a namaz and then take the bike rally towards Theegalakunta. The National Flag will be hoisted and a public meeting will be held,” he informed.
He also demanded that the names of Muslim freedom fighters Maulvi Allauddin, Turrebaaz Khan and Journalist Shoebullah Khan who died fighting the British in the war of 1857 in the erstwhile Hyderabad state be recognised.
