KCR a living chapter of Telangana history, says Talasani Srinivas Yadav

At Vijay Diwas celebrations in Hyderabad, MLA Talasani Srinivas Yadav praised BRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao as a key force behind the Telangana movement. He recalled major milestones, including the 2009 hunger strike and the long struggle that led to State formation

Hyderabad: Former Minister and Sanathnagar MLA Talasani Srinivas Yadav on Tuesday described Bharat Rashtra Samithi president and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao as “a living chapter of history” for his unparalleled role in the creation of Telangana.

Speaking at Vijay Diwas celebrations, organised to mark the anniversary of the commencement of the Telangana State formation process and to honour the martyrs of the statehood movement, Talasani said Chandrashekhar Rao’s decades-long struggle, sacrifices and leadership remained forever etched in the hearts of four crore Telangana people.

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“KCR garu is not just a leader; he is the very soul of the Telangana movement. History will always remember him as the architect of our State,” the senior BRS leader said.

As part of the celebrations, fruits were distributed to patients at NIMS Hospital in Hyderabad. Recalling the long struggle for Telangana, the MLA said that though the movement began in 1969, leaders of that time bowed to the Central government and diluted the agitation despite over 400 people losing their lives. It was only in 2001, when Chandrashekhar Rao formed the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, that the movement gained fresh momentum through programmes like Sagara Haram, Sakala Janula Samme and Vanta Varpu.

He said the BRS chief united employees, workers, students and all sections of society, mounted pressure on the Centre and led a prolonged and relentless struggle. Comparing him to Mahatma Gandhi, who adopted non-violence in the freedom movement, Talasani said Chandrashekhar Rao too followed the ahimsa path during the Telangana agitation.

Recounting a turning point, he noted that on 29 November 2009, with the slogan ‘Either Telangana Statehood or KCR’s death’, the BRS chief began an indefinite fast-unto-death. The 11-day hunger strike united Telangana society like never before. Finally, on 9 December 2009, the then UPA government at the Centre announced initiation of the process to form Telangana.

“This historic day is etched forever in our hearts and we proudly celebrate 9 December as Vijay Diwas,” Talasani said, adding that the hard-won State witnessed unprecedented development during the 10-year rule of K Chandrashekhar Rao and the BRS government.

MLAs Mutha Gopal and Kaleru Venkatesh and other BRS leaders were present.