NEW DELHI:
PM Narendra Modi, in his monthly radio talk 'Mann Ki Baat', Sunday highlighted the decisive role of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in liberating Hyderabad from the Nizam's rule, a milestone that unified India post-independence. Reiterating the country will celebrate 'Hyderabad Liberation Day' next month, the PM said it was Patel who persuaded the cabinet headed by Jawaharlal Nehru to send the Army to ensure that Hyderabad remained a part of India, and recalled the courage of all those heroes who took part in Operation Polo, through which Hyderabad was liberated from the Nizam, who was being supported by Pakistan, and people were saved from the atrocities inflicted by Razakars.
Modi played an audio clip of Patel, his voice resonating with emotion: "So, what you have written in the certificate - that whatever I did for states or whatever our govt did for Hyderabad, it was fine - but you know how we handled the Hyderabad case, how difficult it was. We promised all states, all princes, that we will not take any wrong decision for any prince or king. Everyone will be treated equally; whatever happens to everyone, they will also be treated the same. But to that extent, for them, we made a separate agreement."
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