The Hyderabad Forum for Freedom of Expression (1997) meeting took place on January 19, 1997, at Ashok Talkies, near Vivekavardhini College, Putlibowli, Hyderabad. Organized by Pasham Yadagiri, the event was held under the Forum for Freedom of Expression, which was founded by Telangana journalists to honor Gulam Rasool, who was murdered by the police. The forum aimed to hold annual gatherings to discuss and promote freedom of expression in Telangana. The event’s pamphlet opened with a powerful statement: “The self-respect movement of the brothers who are living as foreigners in their own land.” Several key events took place, including the release of Gade Innaiah’s book “Dagapadda Telangana,” Gadar’s first-ever performance of the iconic song “Amma Telanganama Akali Kekala Ganama,” and the inauguration of Prof. Jayashankar’s book “What is Happening in Telangana.” As a result of the discussions, it was decided to hold a “Telangana Conference” in Bhuvanagiri on March 8, 1997.

Later, on February 26, 1997, Telangana’s issues were extensively discussed in the Andhra Pradesh State Assembly. During this session, T. Jeevan Reddy, a Congress MLA from Jagityal, presented detailed statistics highlighting the injustice and exploitation faced by Telangana. This marked a significant moment as Telangana’s struggles became a central topic of discussion at the state level.