Over 2,000 security personnel, veterans join solidarity rally for Indian armed forces

The Hindu

09-05-2025

Standing under the statue of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on the fringes of the Hussainsagar as patriotic songs rent the air and slogans of 'Jai Hind' and 'Vande Mataram' echoed through NTR Marg. It wasn't just another evening on the city's busiest lakeside road — Hyderabad was on its feet, in solidarity with the Indian armed forces.
More than 2,300 personnel from Telangana's Fire Department, Disaster Response Force, Police, Special Protection Force (SPF), elite counter-terror unit Organisation for Counter Terrorists Operations (OCTOPUS) and police officials from the tri-commissionerates lined up outside the Secretariat complex on Thursday, for the 1 kilometre-odd solidarity rally.
Among them marched 70 to 80 veterans of the Indian Army, Air Force, and paramilitary forces — many in uniform, some in civil, all wearing emotion on their sleeves. Joining them were top officials from the State administration and a contingent of 150 women officers from various wings of the Telangana Police.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, IT Minister D. Sridhar Babu and Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar along with other senior political representatives also joined the rally.
The national flag flew high across the 250-metre-long stretch of people, carried by participants and spectators alike. As dusk fell, the rally route, bordered by the shimmering waters of Tank Bund, glowed under floodlights, turning the evening into a visual tribute to patriotism.
The rally came against the backdrop of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the terrorist strike in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on April 22. Organised by the Telangana government, the event aimed to send a message of unity and support to the armed forces deployed along the border.
'The solidarity rally was our way of standing firmly behind the army at the border — a message that they are not alone,' said Rajender Sohni, a retired Indian Air Force officer. 'It's also a clear signal that India will not let those responsible go unpunished. The attack on innocent people in Pahalgam cannot be ignored. The Defence Ministry has made it clear: justice will be served, and until that happens, we will not rest.'
For Captain Bandi Venu, an ex-serviceman, the day stirred memories of his time in uniform. 'I felt the same spirit today that I carried during my years in the Army,' he said.
Veteran G.K. Rao, recipient of the National Seva Ratna, said, 'We may be veterans, but we are still soldiers at heart — young in spirit and fierce in purpose. To the terrorists infiltrating our motherland: we challenge you. We have struck nine times already, and we will find every corner you hide in. We are ready to serve until our last breath — for the safety and future of our youth.'
Retired Flying Officer M.A.R. Hussain praised the young Indian Air Force pilots who took part in Operation Sindoor for their excellence in flying capabilities. 'The precision and bravery they have shown in destroying the terrorist camps is commendable,' he said.
Over 600 Hyderabad Commissionerate officials were deployed for security and crowd management during the rally, which passed peacefully.