This is a historic event but political parties see it in different perspectives. They are planning parallel events to mark the occasion. Union Government organizing "Hyderabad Liberation Day"in Hyderabad. Union Home Minister Amit Shah would participate in the public event in Parade Grounds, Secunderabad. Government of Telangana celebrating this as "National Integration Day", Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will address the gathering in Public Gardens, Hyderabad. Meanwhile, the Congress leader Sonia Gandhi will take part its rally and public meeting in Tukkuguda, suburb of Hyderabad on same day.
Operation Polo: Annexation of Hyderabad:
September 17, 1948, is a historic day in Swatantra Bharat's journey. On this day, the largest princely state, Hyderabad, was integrated with the Union of India. 2023 is the year that marks the ending of the 75th year of the merger of Hyderabad Nizam State which till September 1948 was under the rule of the Asaf Jahi dynasty or the "Nizam Rajya". With the Indian Independence Act 1947, the policy of subsidiary alliance was abandoned and the princely states were given three options to decide their future. Options are: 1. Accede to India 2. Accede to Pakistan 3. Remain Independent. By 1948 most of the Princely States had acceded to India but the state of Hyderabad had chosen to join neither Pakistan nor India. Therefore, the Government of India had undertaken a military operation to annex Nizam Rajya.
The integration was achieved through a military operation under the leader ship of then Union Home Minister "Iron Man of India" Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel - referred to as police action under the code name "Operation Polo". This military operation was initiated on September 13 and ended with a ceasefire announced by Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh and the last Nizam of Hyderabad State, on September 17, 1948. The Indian military detained thousands of people during the operation, including Razakars and communists. The Nizam had abdicated upon the surrender of Hyderabad and the princely state ceased to exist. Subsequently, the Nizam signed an instrument of accession, joining India.
