Congress yet to fulfil promises made to Telangana martyrs’ families

On Telangana Formation Day, the ruling party faces criticism for not fulfilling promises made to the families of Telangana martyrs. Key assurances — including jobs, pensions, and memorial development — remain pending, raising questions about the government’s commitment to the statehood movement legacy

Hyderabad: Telangana Formation Day was celebrated for the second time under the Congress government on Monday, but the promises made to the families of Telangana martyrs remain unfulfilled.

During the Assembly elections, the Congress had pledged in its manifesto to identify martyrs from both the early and final phases of the Telangana movement, officially recognise them, and provide a government job to one member of each family.

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The party had also promised a monthly honorary pension of ₹25,000 to the martyr’s mother, father, or spouse. Additionally, it committed to withdrawing all cases filed against the youth who participated in the agitation and issuing official ID cards designating them as Telangana Movement Fighters every year on June 2.

These assurances were part of the Hyderabad Youth Declaration in the Congress manifesto. However, none of them have been implemented so far.

Last year, family members of several Telangana martyrs carried portraits of their loved ones and urged the Congress government to honour its commitments at a public gathering held at Parade Grounds.

Meanwhile, the Amara Jyothi Telangana Martyrs Memorial, inaugurated by former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on June 22, 2023, remains shut to the public. Located near Lumbini Park along the banks of Hussain Sagar, the memorial spans 3.2 acres.

While the Congress government claims to have taken up some pending works, including the development of a museum, there is still no clarity on when these will be completed.

This raises questions about the government’s commitment to honouring the martyrs. Notably, statues of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Telangana Thalli were installed in a short span, while work on the Martyrs Memorial has progressed slowly for reasons known only to the officials concerned.