By The Hindu Bureau
Copyright thehindu
Backward Classes Welfare and Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi has said that the sacrifices of freedom fighters who fought for the liberation of Hyderabad-Karnataka, now Kalyana Karnataka, must be remembered with gratitude.
Mr. Tangadagi, who is Koppal district in-charge, was speaking after hoisting the National Flag at the 78th Kalyana Karnataka Utsav celebrations organised at the District Stadium in Koppal on Wednesday.
Mr. Tangadagi recalled that though India attained Independence on August 15, 1947, people of the Hyderabad State, including the present Kalyana Karnataka region, had to wait until September 17, 1948, to be free.
“With the support of Kasim Razvi and his Razakar militia, the Hyderabad Nizam had refused to join the Indian Dominion. It was the resolute action of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel that led to the military operation, forcing the Nizam’s surrender and the region’s merger with India,” he said.
Tracing the contribution of leaders such as Swami Ramanand Tirth, Sardar Sharanagouda Inamdar, Alavandi Shivamurthy Swamiji and others who mobilised people and set up camps across the region, Mr. Tangadagi said that it was their sacrifices that paved the way for freedom from the Nizam.
On the occasion, the Minister also highlighted the State government’s flagship five guarantee schemes, noting that they have brought relief and social justice to people across Karnataka.
He gave district-wise figures of beneficiaries of Shakti, Gruha Jyothi, Anna Bhagya, Gruha Lakshmi and Yuva Nidhi schemes, pointing out that in Koppal district, lakhs of people have benefited.
He listed allocations for development works under the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board (KKRDB) and sector-specific schemes in agriculture, horticulture, social welfare, minority welfare, education, urban development and skill development.
“Every year, ₹5,000 crore is earmarked for the region under the KKRDB to accelerate development in all the seven districts of the region. For 2025-26, ₹336.08 crore has been earmarked for Koppal district,” he said.
He added that plans are under way for new educational institutions, hospitals, court complexes, water supply projects and tourism development on Anjanadri Hills.
A ceremonial parade by the police, NCC, Bharat Scouts and Guides and Home Guards, distribution of laptops to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes students of government polytechnics under the SCP-TSP schemes, cultural programmes by local schoolchildren and prize distribution to winners of essay, speech and painting competitions were part of the celebrations.
Koppal MLA K. Raghavendra Hitnal presided over the event. Koppal MP Rajshekhar Basavaraj Hitnal, MLC Hemalatha Naik, Deputy Commissioner Suresh B. Itnal, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Varnit Negi, Superintendent of Police Ram L. Arasiddhi and a large number of students and citizens participated.
