HYDERABAD: Claiming that the aspirations behind the formation of Telangana remained unfulfilled even after more than a decade, BJP national president Nitin Nabin on Tuesday said his party would work towards achieving the goals envisioned during the statehood movement.
“The poor people of Telangana did not get the kind of government they expected,” Nabin said, alleging that the state’s development agenda had been neglected, first by the
BRS and then the Congress. “Those who opposed Telangana may be in power today, but the resolve and sentiment for Telangana’s development remain unfulfilled even now. We will make every effort to fulfil that resolve,” he added.
Targeting the Congress government, Nabin alleged that those in power were using Telangana as an ATM and that the hard-earned money of the people was being diverted for the party’s interests.
The BJP national president was addressing state formation day celebrations organised by the party in Delhi.
Recalling the Telangana statehood movement, he said that when the Centre initiated the process for the formation of Telangana on December 9, 2009, people across the region were filled with hope. However, he alleged that Congress later backtracked, triggering a prolonged agitation that resulted in the loss of many lives.
“Telangana of their dreams, in the way it should be built, we are perhaps still lagging behind in that direction. But the resolve of the BJP is that we will certainly struggle for the development of Telangana and work to fulfil it,” he said.
Paying tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the BJP national president said it was Patel’s determination that freed Hyderabad and Telangana from the Nizam’s rule and helped integrate the country.
Telangana not gifted by Congress but achieved through sacrifices: Kishan
“When we speak of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat, it was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who played the role of weaving that vision together,” he said.
Nabin further claimed: “There was one lingering regret in Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s heart — to remove Article 370 from Kashmir. Our leader Narendra Modi has now fulfilled that longing as well.”
He said India was moving towards a fully integrated and developed nation while preserving the heritage and culture of its states.
Nabin also paid tribute to those who participated in the Telangana movement. “The brothers and sisters of Telangana undertook a great journey of struggle and sacrifice for the creation of the state. On this day, I bow to all those martyrs and heroic individuals who gave their all for Telangana,” he said.
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy said Telangana was not gifted by the Congress but was achieved through the struggle and sacrifices of its people. He said the BJP was committed to the state’s development and claimed that the NDA government at the Centre had provided `13 lakh crore for Telangana’s growth.
State BJP president N Ramchander Rao said that had Sushma Swaraj not stood firmly in support of Telangana, the state’s voice would not have resonated so strongly in Parliament. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained committed to Telangana’s development.
Highlighting the relationship between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, N Ramchander Rao said: “We Telugu people have two states. There should be no hatred, but only healthy competition in development. With friendship between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, both states can progress together.”
Meanwhile, MoS for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar accused Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy of diverting public attention from unfulfilled election promises and paddy procurement issues by creating unnecessary controversies with neighbouring states.
Addressing Telangana Formation Day celebrations at the BJP state headquarters on Tuesday, he alleged that the Congress government was
attempting to gain political mileage by claiming that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was not giving an appointment to Revanth Reddy to discuss interstate issues related to irrigation projects.
“If the chief minister is unable to secure an appointment, he should admit it. BJP leaders, including Kishan Reddy and I, will try to arrange a meeting,” Sanjay said.
