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The Telangana Liberation Day, on which the erstwhile princely state of Hyderabad was merged with the Indian Union, was celebrated in a big way today by ruling Congress and other major parties including Telugu Desam and TRS here.

State Congress president D Srinivas unfurled the national flag at Gandhi Bhavan, the party headquarters, and Chief Minister K Rosaiah joined him in paying tributes to the martyrs, who fought against the Nizam of Hyderabad.

Paying homage to those put up resistance against the oppressive Nizam rule, Telugu Desam Chief N Chandrababu Naidu said, "the spirit of valour and sacrifice of the freedom fighters is a source of inspiration."

He also felicitated freedom fighters on the occasion.

As the Nizam sought to retain independence, the princely state of Hyderabad was merged with the Indian Union on September 17, 1948 following "police action" by the Union Government under the supervision of the then Home Minister Sardar Patel.

TRS president K. Chandrasekhara Rao led the celebrations by hoisting the tricolour at the party headquarters Telangana Bhavan here.

KCR, as the TRS chief is popularly known, alleged that some elements were trying to distort Telangana history and this was hurting the sentiments of people of the region.

"This will not be tolerated and we will teach them a lesson through our struggle," he said.

KCR also praised the Nizam or the ruler of erstwhile Hyderabad State.

"If you (people of Andhra Pradesh) respect Sir Arthur Cotton (British engineer), we hold Nizam in high esteem for building Nizamsagar (an irrigation project in Telangana)," he said.