Telangana Formation Day in Auckland
Venkat Raman
Auckland, June 1, 2024
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said that he is looking forward to visiting India later this year.
Speaking at the 10th Annual Telangana Formation Day organised by the Telangana Association of New Zealand at Avondale College Auditorium in West Auckland a few minutes ago, he stressed the importance of India-New Zealand relations.
“I would also like to visit Hyderabad if possible. I will lead a large delegation of officials and businesses,” he said.
India is currently in election mode with the last day of polling in East and North India and visits of global leaders will be announced after the new government is formed in New Delhi after June 4, 2023.
Tribute to the Indian Community
Mr Luxon extolled the contributions of the Indian community in general and Telanganites in particular.
“Telangana is among the most developed States in India and is a Leader in Information Technology and Pharmaceuticals. You inspire us with your hard work to make New Zealand a better place. My government is working to get the economy back on track and my job is to make your life better,” he said.
Mr Luxon promised to make New Zealand a safer country and cited the investment of $1.9 billion provided in his government’s first Annual Budget for Law and Order introduced to Parliament on May 30, 2024.
Mr Luxon honoured several members of the community for their services over the years.
Telangana Association of New Zealand is arguably the first organisation in the world to celebrate Telangana Formation Day (which is on June 2). It is also the only Association in the world to have the Prime Minister of the country as the Chief Guest.
The Programme
About 900 men, women and children, mostly Telanganites, are attending the event at which Mr Luxon is the Chief Guest.
The programme includes traditional and modern music and dances, special folk dances of Telangana, speeches and dinner.
Progressive State
The State of Telangana was formed on June 2, 2014, after 60 years of struggle and it now stands as a well-developed State, it was noted.
Located at the Centre-South stretch of the Indian Peninsula on the high Deccan Plateau, Telangana is the 12th largest and most populated State in India with a geographical area of 112,077 kms. As per available information, the population of the State was 350 million.
Promise’ fulfilled
Telangana was ruled by the Nizam of Hyderabad. It joined the Union of India in 1948 after an Indian military invasion.
The ‘Promise’ of a separate State for the people of Telangana goes back to August 15, 1947, when India became independent. The ‘Promise’ was not fulfilled even in 1957 when the ‘Linguistic Reorganisation of States’ was implemented.
Since then, the people of Telangana have been demanding the delivery of that ‘Promise’ peacefully. It became a reality in February 2014, one of the major acts of the outgoing government of Dr Manmohan Singh. Telangana is an independent State today with Hyderabad as the Capital.
Andhra Pradesh (AP) continues as an independent State sharing Hyderabad as the de jure Capital, while Amaravathi is its de facto capital.
The promulgation of a Statute declaring Telangana as an independent State provided for such sharing for ten years. ‘Telangana Formation Day’ is therefore a very important and emotional event for the people of Telangana.
