Khammam: Saffron flags were hoisted in Errupalem, a mandal headquarters town in Khammam district, on Sunday, to commemorate martyred freedom fighters Sardar Jamalapuram Kesava Rao and Madapati Ramachandra Rao who sacrificed their lives in Meenavolu on January 15, 1948.
BJP state president K. Laxman said that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had reminded people of Nizam by ignoring September 17, which was Telangana’s Liberation Day. “The people of Telangana have had to go through various struggles. They expect the government to announce September 17 as T-Liberation Day, but they are upset by KCR’s gestures,” he said. He added that despite wanting to do so, people were unable to celebrate the occasion in Telangana.
“The leaders, who argued for a united Andhra Pradesh, have been made ministers. This gesture is humiliating to the people of Telangana,” he said.
Statues of Sardar Jamalapuram Kesava Rao and Madapati Ramacha-ndra Rao were unveiled by BJP leaders. Ramachandra Rao’s heir Gopalakrishna and Kesava Rao’s daughter Satyvathi were felicitated on the occasion.
Mr Laxman said that both leaders had fought against the Nizam and organised various struggles as part of the freedom movement. “The services of these two leaders have been ignored by successive rulers,” he alleged. He said that villages such as Madhira, Parakal and Bairanpalli had been important centres for T-fighters. “Chilli farmers in Khammam were handcuffed and chained for asking for remunerative prices. The Dalits of Nerella were tortured for raising questions regarding illegal sand mining, and Dharna Chowk was shifted. All these acts are reminiscent of the Nizam,” he said.
Mr Laxman said that the self-respect of the people of Telangana had taken a hit because of KCR’s decision to work with the MIM.
“The TRS government is making efforts to implement reservation for the minorities and the BJP is against it,” he said.
BJP national general secretary P. Muralidhar Rao said that Laxman’s Telangana Vimochana Yatra would be an eye-opener for the TRS Government. He also asked for September 17 to be declared as Liberation Day. The programme was organised by BJP state secretary K. Sridhar Reddy
