Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan on Thursday said national integration could be sustained only when all sections of people get equal rights, dignity and opportunities, stressing that bringing territories together was not enough.
Addressing a gathering after unfurling the national flag at Secunderabad Parade Grounds on the occasion of the 79th Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations, Radhakrishnan said, “Political integration can bring territories together; constitutional democracy brings citizens together. He said the Constitution binds together people who speak different languages, worship different deities and hold different views by providing a common framework that treats citizens equally.
The Vice-President highlighted the role of India’s first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in bringing the princely states into the Indian Union. Radhakrishnan also referred to the role of central security forces in maintaining India’s security after independence. The Vice-President visited the War Memorial and laid a wreath, inspected the parade and witnessed the March Past and cultural performances. He also visited an exhibition by the Central Bureau of Communication, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, showcasing the struggle, sacrifices and historic journey towards Hyderabad’s liberation and integration with the Indian Union.
Radhakrishnan said September 17, 1948, marked a historic moment when Hyderabad State was integrated into India following Operation Polo. He said the day had been officially observed by the Union government since 2022 to remember those who fought and sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the Hyderabad region and to familiarise future generations with their contribution.
He said Patel’s role in integrating Hyderabad and other princely states could not be forgotten and helped strengthen India’s territorial and political unity at a crucial stage after independence. Radhakrishnan said Mahatma Gandhi and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had made major contributions to the freedom struggle, while Patel played a crucial role in ensuring that the country did not remain fragmented after independence. “Sacrifices of these leaders and ordinary citizens should be remembered and their stories should be conveyed to future generations,” he said. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision included making India free of Naxalism and ensuring that every state remained peaceful and free from serious law-and-order challenges.
