Celebrate 17 September as National Integration Day: Owaisi to Centre, TS
“With the merger of erstwhile Hyderabad state and various other princely states, the people of these territories were finally recognised as equal citizens of India, as a Union of States. The integration of these territories is also a recognition that the people of these lands had long struggled against (indirect) British rule,” wrote Mr. Owaisi.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 3 Sep 2022 2:09 PM GMT
Hyderabad: AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi wrote to Union Home minister Amit Shah regarding Centre's decision to celebrate 75 years of the integration of the erstwhile state of Hyderabad into the Union of India on 17 September.
"It must be noted that the accession and merger of various princely states were not only about "liberating" the territories from autocratic rulers. More importantly, the nationalist movement rightly saw the people of these territories as an integral part of independent India. Therefore, the phrase "National Integration Day" may be more apposite, rather than mere liberation," the letter read.
"With the merger of erstwhile Hyderabad state and various other princely states, the people of these territories were finally recognised as equal citizens of India, as a Union of States. The integration of these territories is also a recognition that the people of these lands had long struggled against (indirect) British rule," wrote Mr. Owaisi.
Meanwhile, in another letter to Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, the AIMIM chief suggested that the state government mark the occasion as "National Integration Day."
"As you are aware, 17 September marks the date when the erstwhile state of Hyderabad finally merged with the Union of India. This date marks the end of indirect colonial and feudal rule for the people of these territories. This day must be a celebration of the struggles of people of erstwhile Hyderabad against both British colonialism as well as the feudal autocratic rule of Nizams," he wrote in his letter to the CM.
Mr. Owaisi said the 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," he pointed out.
The committee also found that mass violence was committed against common Muslims living in these territories.
Mr. Owaisi suggested a befitting 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 17 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.
