The kin of the Nizam, the ruler of erstwhile princely state of Hyderabad, are disappointed that authorities did not invite them to a reception being hosted at one of his palaces in the city for delegates of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a dinner at Taj Falaknuma for Ivanka Trump, daughter and advisor to the US President Donald Trump and other delegates on Tuesday.
It is highly disappointing and lamentable that the family of the 7th Nizam were not invited for the GES event being held in one of the palaces that represents our familial culture and heritage. I, being the grandson of the erstwhile Royal Family, deserve an invite as the Palace is an important landmark both in our family’s history and also in the history of Hyderabad.Nawab Najaf Ali Khan, grandson of the 7th and last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan
Khan said he had numerous communications over last 10 days with the authorities of Niti Aayog, who are responsible for handling the event but it evoked no response.
Meanwhile, Modi, Telangana Governor ESL Narasimhan, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and some top politicians and industrialists dined with Ivanka on a 101-seater dining table at the palace hotel. The guests were treated with a variety of delicacies including the famous Hyderabadi biryani.
For other GES delegates, the dinner was arranged in the hotel lounges.
Ivanka received the royal treatment as a horse-drawn carriage of the Nizam era ferried her from the main gate to the palace atop the hill. She and other guests were greeted with a rose petal shower upon entering the palace.
The White House advisor also went around the palace, which was once the residence of the Nizam, the ruler of erstwhile princely State of Hyderabad.
They all reached the palace after the inauguration of GES at Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC). Elaborate security arrangements were made as the palace is located in the old city of Hyderabad and is surrounded by densely populated neighbourhoods.
The Nizam's suite, which used to be the private suite of the ruler of Hyderabad State and costs a whopping Rs 5 lakh to Rs 8 lakh a night was booked for Ivanka in case she stayed at the palace.
However, she returned to Trident Hotel, where she is staying. Modi reached Rajiv Gandhi International Airport to fly back to New Delhi.
Ivanka was the first high-profile foreign dignitary visiting the palace after it was converted into a star hotel a decade ago.
It was Nawab Vaqar-ul-Umra, the Nizam's Prime Minister, who built the palace in 1893. Impressed by its magnificence, sixth Nizam Mir Mahboob Ali Khan bought it for himself and stayed there till his death in 1911.
Built over 32 acres, the scorpion-shaped and all-marble palace stands tall in its splendour and majesty atop a hill, at 2,000 ft above sea level and overlooks the old city of Hyderabad.
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