AP not Formed on Linguistic Basis

Blame it on Centre for mental agony of T people: Capt Panduranga Reddy

Hyderabad: A book titled ‘States Reorganization - A Case Study of Andhra Pradesh’ written by Captain Lingala Panduranga Reddy was released here on Saturday as part of the centenary celebrations of J V Narasinga Rao, the former Deputy Chief Minister of the State.

Panduranga Reddy, who was awarded PhD by the Osmania University for his in-depth study of reorganisation of States, has brought his research in a book form. “I tried to prove a point. Andhra Pradesh was not a linguistic state. If you go by history, we can understand that the reorganisation process had started in 1911 itself. It commenced with the division of Bengal and formation of Bihar. When King George V visited India during that year, Lord Hardinge, the then Viceroy, had advocated for linguistic states and the King had agreed to it” Capt Reddy told The Hans India.

“Even the SK Dar Commission, appointed in 1948 to study the reorganisation of States, had negated the proposal to form States on linguistic basis, stating that it would be a fatal blow to the federal structure. States should be formed on geographical contiguity, financial self-sufficiency and administrative feasibility, it recommended. Later JVP committee comprising Pandit Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel along with Congress President Pattabhi Sitaramaiah was formed to study the recommendations of Dar Committee. This committee in its report in 1949 felt almost the same, but said that the time was not ripe for formation of new provinces. It, however, added that if public sentiment was overwhelming, then it had to be looked into,” Panduranga Reddy explained.

Later, the first States Reorganisation Committee (SRC) was formed. It was known as Fazal Ali Commission with KM Panicker and Kunzru as members whose recommendations were implemented, he added.

Elaborating on the history of formation of Andhra Pradesh, Capt Reddy said that no country had supported the Indian government on the case filed by Nizam against joining the Indian Union. In the Security Council, eight countries supported Nizam, and three nations abstained. Nizam wanted to be independent. But the so-called police action on Hyderabad, which was initiated a day after Mohammed Ali Jinnah’s death, altered his plans. Nizam’s anti-India stance infuriated Indian rulers and they wanted to split the Hyderabad state. And, under this plan, the territory of Andhra region was integrated into Telangana, he revealed.

“Let me reiterate, it was not on the linguistic parameters but to break Hyderabad that the AP State was formed,” he said. Even Bejawada Gopala Reddy, too, echoed the same sentiments once, he said. “I explained all these factors in my thesis in several chapters viz., Security Council Case, Police Action, Injustice done to Telangana people, How future states shall be formed? etc” he said.

Stating that a lot of injustice was done to the people of Telangana region because of forceful union with Andhra region, Panduranga Reddy said many violations had been made and at every point of time, the people here were denied their legitimate rights.

It’s climax now: Leaders

Several leaders who attended the book release function opined that the Telangana State had reached a point of no return. They urged the Seemandhra leaders not to make any attempts to stall it; else it would lead to further complications.

Former PCC chief Narsa Reddy, who formally released the book, castigated leaders like former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu for the delay in the formation of the State. “They plundered a lot and even now their scions try to mint money,” he alleged.

Rapolu Ananda Bhaskar, a member of Rajya Sabha, came down heavily on Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, saying that it was futile to submit fake reports to the Centre. “He does not command the respect of a CM any more. JV Narasinga Rao, who was a deputy CM, commanded more respect” he remarked. Former minister Shankar Rao recalled his association with JV, and said that Panduranga Reddy’s book would be a useful reference material for the people researching on the history of Telangana.

Jahed Ali Khan, Editor of Siasat, felt that Andhra Pradesh was a failed experiment. Veteran journalist Potturi Venkateswara Rao appreciated the writer for his opinions, and echoed his sentiments that it was the Centre which should be blamed for the neglect of Telangana and delay in the formation of new State.

Former Speaker K R Suresh Reddy, leaders like Kamalakar, Amos, Indrasena Reddy, Yadava Reddy, Bhoopala Reddy and Bhanu Prasad also participated in the programme.