Diksha Diwas Meeting in Nalgonda Draws Huge Crowd
A large gathering was held at the Nalgonda Clock Tower, also known as Telangana Chorasta during the statehood agitation, to commemorate Diksha Diwas. The event celebrated the pivotal hunger strike by former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), which played a crucial role in the fight for a separate Telangana state. The meeting was marked by emotional speeches from key leaders and enthusiastic participation from the public.
Former minister and Suryapet MLA Guntakandla Jagadish Reddy spoke about the struggles of the Telangana movement. He recalled how the fight for Telangana began as early as 1996, with KCR standing firmly against policies that harmed farmers, such as the privatization of agriculture and increased electricity charges under World Bank conditions. Reddy accused political opponents, including N. Chandrababu Naidu, of attempting to derail the movement through misinformation.
Reddy recounted the turning point when KCR resigned from his roles in the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and, after months of discussions with activists, founded the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), now the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). He emphasized that KCR’s commitment to achieving Telangana’s statehood was unwavering, calling it his life’s mission and dream.
The MLA also highlighted KCR’s hunger strike on November 29, 2009, which became a defining moment in the movement. KCR’s slogan, “Let me die or let Telangana be born,” resonated deeply with people across the region. Although the government tried to disrupt the strike by falsely claiming it had ended, KCR’s determination forced the central government to address the demand for a separate Telangana.
The programme was chaired by former MLA Ravindra Kumar and Diksha Diwas in-charge, former MP Srinivas Reddy. Other notable leaders who attended the event included former MLAs Kancherla Bhupal Reddy, Nallamothu Bhaskar Rao, Chirumarthi Lingaiah, N. Bhagat Kumar, and others. The event was a tribute to the sacrifices and determination of the leaders and people who fought for Telangana’s statehood.
