Was the Nizami years in Hyderabad a golden era or a tyrannical phase?
The metropolis of Hyderabad, now a bone of contention between various regions in Andhra Pradesh, became the focus of the debate during the day’s proceedings in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
While the All-India MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi waxed eloquent on how Hyderabad witnessed a golden era during the 400 years of Nizam’s rule, some others described it as a tyrannical period in the State’s history.
What started as a simple taunt that everyone wants to lay claim to Hyderabad as it is a developed city, but not developed by any of the claimants, turned out to be acrimonious, leading to ruckus in the House.
As Owaisi spoke on economic factors in the State and how Telangana and Rayalaseema had suffered because of lack of focus, TDP leader N. Chandrababu Naidu butted in to claim that during his nine-year rule, Hyderabad’s growth accelerated.
This provoked Owaisi to recall the “glorious days” of the Nizams and claimed that Hyderabad was an economically surplus State, which attracted people from all over the country.
His claim that Hyderabad under the Asaf Jahis was a land of peace and harmony and overall development evoked sharp reactions from the members.
He went on to assert that Hyderabad had got electricity at east 17 years before Chennai did and it showed the progress the city had made under the visionary Nizams. To this, some members retorted that it was the same rulers who had sold parts of the erstwhile Hyderabad State to the British.
Owaisi said the Nizams had donated liberally to educational institutions such as the Banaras Hindu University and Aligarh Muslim University and to religious bodies and temples, including Tirupati and Bhadrachalam temples.
Of the 58 years since Andhra Pradesh came into existence, it was ruled by leaders from Andhra and Rayalaseema for 44 years, but they failed to harness the potential to develop the backward regions, Owaisi said.
Earlier in the morning, the House was adjourned for about half an hour after members of YSR Congress Party stalled the proceedings, seeking clarity if there would be voting on the AP Reorganisation Bill.
rishikumar.vundi@thehindu.co.in