Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud on Wednesday (September 17, 2025) criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for what he termed as its attempt to take credit for the Hyderabad State's merger with the Indian Union.

Addressing a gathering after unfurling the national flag on the occasion of Telangana Merger Day at Gandhi Bhavan in Hyderabad, Mr. Goud said it was Congress' tradition to remember leaders such as Swami Ramananda Tirtha, Jamalapuram Kesava Rao, Burgula Ramakrishna Rao and P.V. Narasimha Rao, who had worked tirelessly for the merger. He also recalled the sacrifices of Telangana freedom fighters and communist leaders including Komaram Bheem, Doddi Komuraiah, Chakali Ailamma and Sheikh Bandagi, who fought the Nizam's forces through armed struggle.

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Taking a dig at the BJP for celebrating the day as 'Liberation Day', the TPCC chief said, "The BJP was born only in the 1980s. What exists today is not even the same party, but the Modi-Shah BJP of 2014. They don't know history. They don't care for Mahatma Gandhi. Instead, they glorify his assassin," he alleged.

Mr. Goud pointed out that it was the Congress government under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, that integrated Hyderabad into the Indian Union within four days in 1948 through 'Operation Polo'. "Yet, the BJP seeks to distort Patel's role by calling it liberation instead of merger. This is an insult to Patel and proof of the BJP's opportunistic politics," he said.

Accusing the BJP-led Union government of undermining constitutional institutions, the TPCC president alleged that the party had subdued the Election Commission to secure a third term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the BJP was "fearful of Rahul Gandhi's vote-protection campaign" and was resorting to divisive politics.

On the performance of the State government, Mr. Goud said the administration under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy was providing "excellent praja palana (public governance)," citing welfare schemes such as free bus travel for women and free rice distribution.

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TPCC marks Telangana Merger Day in Hyderabad, slams BJP for celebrating it as 'Liberation Day'