‘Don’t drag national flag into politics’: Ponnam Prabhakar counters Kishan Reddy

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BC Welfare and Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar. File | Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR

Telangana Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar hit back at Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy over the latter’s remarks on the September 17 Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations, asserting that the national flag belonged to the entire country and should not be used for political purposes.

Mr. Prabhakar said September 17 was an important day in Telangana’s history and that there was no objection to commemorating the integration of the erstwhile Hyderabad State with the Indian Union. However, he said the historical occasion should not be turned into a platform for political divisions or presented as the exclusive legacy of any one party or ideology.

“The national flag belongs to all the people of the country. It is not the property of any one party,” Mr. Prabhakar said.

He pointed out that the Telangana government had officially hoisted the national flag at all district Collectorates, government offices and government schools on September 17. The Chief Minister and Ministers had also participated in official flag-hoisting programmes, he said. The Congress too had organised programmes and unfurled the national flag with due respect.

He therefore rejected the BJP’s claim that it alone was championing the national flag and said such a narrative was aimed at deriving political benefit from the occasion.

Mr. Prabhakar said the movements against the Nizam’s rule at the time were led by the Congress and Communist parties, and pointed out that the BJP did not exist then.

He said the history of the integration of Hyderabad should be presented comprehensively along with the history of other princely States, including Jammu and Kashmir and Junagadh. He questioned why the Centre was not according similar importance to the integration histories of those regions.

He specifically questioned the Centre’s approach to Junagadh and Jammu and Kashmir and asked whether similar official programmes were being held to educate people about their integration into the Indian Union.

“Why is the national flag being highlighted only in Telangana? Why are Jammu and Kashmir and Junagadh not being commemorated in the same manner?” he asked.

The Minister also questioned the Centre over financial assistance to Telangana.

“How much money has the Centre given Telangana for organising the September 17 programme? What has the Union government done regarding the funds due to Telangana and the State’s development projects?” he asked.

He said several freedom fighters and families of those who participated in the Telangana armed struggle were still around and that their sacrifices should be properly recognised by the Centre.

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