Political parties observe Hyderabad merger day

Several political parties today hoisted the tricolour at their respective party offices here to observe the day as 'Telangana Liberation Day' -- marking the merger of erstwhile Hyderabad state with the Indian Union. BJP Telangana unit president Kishan Reddy, after hoisting the flag, slammed the ruling TRS and accused it of not celebrating the official function in a bid to appease "some sections". He charged that the ruling party has come under "pressure" from AIMIM party. Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Hansraj Gangaram Ahir described the day as marking the independence day of Telangana people. Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Bandaru Dattatreya, was also present on the occasion. There have been demands, particularly from BJP, that September 17 be officially declared as being 'Telangana Liberation Day' as it was on this day in 1948 that the region got freedom from Nizam's rule, 13 months after India gained independence. TRS leader and Telangana Home Minister N Narasimha Reddy, meanwhile, hoisted the tricolour at the party's office. N Uttam Kumar Reddy, the Telangana Congress chief, hoisted the flag at Gandhi Bhavan amidst the presence of other senior party leaders. Errabelli Dayakar Rao, senior leader of Telugu Desam Party, lambasted TRS for allegedly ignoring the day. TDP's Telangana unit president L Ramana hoisted the tricolour at the party headquarters.