Amit Shah hoists 103-ft high tricolour in Bidar

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday hoisted a 103 ft high national flag and inaugurated the 'Gorata Shaheed Smarak' and memorial of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at Gorata ground in Bidar district.

"Hundreds of people were killed In this Gorta village by the army of a cruel Nizam for hoisting just a 2.5-ft tall Tricolour. Today, on the same land, we have hoisted a 103-ft tall Tricolour that can't be hidden from anyone. It is a proud moment for us" Amit Shah said as quoted by news agency ANI.

"On the same sacred land, a memorial of those immortal martyrs has been erected. This 20-ft tall statue of Sardar Patel is a symbol of the significant role played by our first Home Minister in ousting the Nizam from Hyderabad. That is why this area, this Bidar could become a part of India," Shah said.

Recalling the horror of Gorata on May 9, 1948, the Union Minister said 200 people were massacred by the 'brutal" Nizam even though the country had become independent.

"More than 200 people were massacred here in Gorata by the brutal Nizam but due to its appeasement policy, the Congress never remembered those who fought and sacrificed their lives for Hyderabad liberation only for its greed for vote bank," Shah said.

Paying his obeisance to Sardar Patel, he said had there not been Patel, Hyderabad would not have been liberated.

Hitting out at the Telangana government, Shah said, "The Telangana government is hesitating to celebrate the Hyderabad Liberation Day, but the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to celebrate the day in a grand manner."

He pointed out that the BJP had celebrated it last year in Telangana and this year too they will celebrate the day.

Shah urged the people to form a BJP government in Karnataka so that it can build a grand martyrs' memorial at Gorata at a cost of Rs 50 crore which will attract tourists not only from Karnataka but also from across the country who will be told about the story of the people of Gorata.

Later, in an apparent move to woo the two dominant communities, Lingayatas and Vokkaligas, the BJP leader will unveil the statues of 12th century social reformer Basaveshwara and the founder of Bengaluru city 'Nadaprabhu' Kempegowda on the 'Vidhana Soudha' premises.