Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao has greeted the people of Maharashtra on the eve of Marathwada Mukti Sangram Din.
In his message, Rao said, "Even though India became Independent on August 15, 1947, the people of old Hyderabad state, including those in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, had to wait for another 13 months and two days to get freedom from the Nizam's rule.
"The day of September 17, therefore, has special significance for the people of the erstwhile Hyderabad state, now divided into Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana," he said.
A number of people had sacrificed their lives in the struggle for freedom and many leaders from Marathwada were in the forefront of the struggle, the Governor said.
"I offer my humble tributes to all the martyrs who laid down their lives in the Mukti Sangram and convey my greetings to the people on the occasion of Marathwada Mukti Sangram Din," he said.
