Nizam's family members condemn remarks made in legislature

Hyderabad, Family members of the Nizam, the erstwhile ruler of Hyderabad State, have condemned the "disparaging" remarks made by political parties in Andhra Pradesh legislature about him during the debate on the bill for formation of separate Telangana state.

The Nizam Family Welfare Association, which represents family member of Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan, the last ruler of Hyderabad State, said the leaders of some political parties made the remarks out of their bias and ignorance of history.

"Hyderabad State had always been independent and secular and was a symbol of Indian heritage and communal harmony, and secularism. The legacy and heritage of Nizam or the Asif Jahi dynasty who ruled for 228 years was so impressive and rich that no individual can run it down," Association president Nawab Najaf Ali Khan said in a statement here on Thursday.

He wanted to know how the political parties can blame Nizam for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and drag his name in the debate.

In an obvious reference to the claim by former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu that Hyderabad developed during his rule and not during Nizam's rule, Khan said the political leaders can't compare themselves with the Nizam who had a tremendous foresight and left an indelible mark in almost every sphere.

"These leaders should take their history lessons again as they have absolutely no knowledge about the administrative skills displayed by the Nizam," he said.

Pointing out that 66 years had passed since the Nizam's rule ended, he said the leaders had done nothing except blaming each other for their follies.

He said the Nizam was a leader of the masses and he made available to people all the latest technology available at that time.

The association said it was during Nizam's rule that Osmania University, Osmania Hospital, Niluofer Hospital, schools, colleges, scientific and research institutes were set up.

The Nizam also built roads, started railways, aviation services, introduced telephone, radio, electricity, postal, built water supply and drainage system and established industries including Nizam Sugar Factory.

Khan said even when he was not the ruler, the Nizam served the people. He set up Nizam Orthopaedic Hospital with his own money when during a visit to Osmania Hospital he saw a boy, whose leg was amputated and he was told that the facility to put an artificial limb was available only in Pune.

He also set up Nizam Charitable Trust in 1954 with the corpus amount of Rs 4.9 crore. It is still in existence helping the poor and needy regardless of religion and caste.