September 17, a golden chapter In India’s history: Dr. JP

Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan said today that the entire nation has to celebrate the merger of Hyderabad with the Indian Union on September 17, 1948.

Addressing a gathering after unfurling the national flag at the party headquarters to mark the liberation of Hyderabad on September 17, 1948, Dr. JP said the emergence of the Indian Union with as many as 534 princely States coming together without any bloodshed in 15 months after Independence is unprecedented in world history. It took 23 years for Italy and nine years of bloody conflicts for Germany to emerge as nations.

Despite the mind-boggling diversity of its people belonging to different races, religions and castes and speaking different languages and dialects, India has preserved its Independence and integrity and strengthened its federal character.

Dr. JP said that challenges before India now include empowerment of people through decentralization, poverty elimination, corruption eradication, creation of equal growth opportunities to all, rejuvenation of villages, and enforcement of rule of law.

Dr. JP said that he was confident that in the next one decade India would accomplish all this and more since it has repeatedly demonstrated its strength and resilience to withstand all vicissitudes. The very fact that various sections of people and organizations cutting across party lines are today speaking the language and ideology of the Lok Satta amply demonstrates that brighter days are ahead for India.

Mr. D. V. V. S. Varma, Lok Satta Working President, hoisted the party flag. The leaders earlier garlanded the portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, B. R. Ambedkar and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.