A new dawn for Telangana

June 2, 2014, is a historic moment for all of us in Andhra Pradesh. The creation of Telangana as the 29th State of the Indian Union represents the sum of all joys, sorrows and fears, and is a manifestation of the dreams and aspirations, pain and sacrifices, trials and tribulations of the people of Telangana. Today, we should not be judging the wisdom behind the decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh; rather, we should be taking stock and asking ourselves what would be the destiny of these two states and that of the people, even as various ‘doomsday’ scenarios continue to do the rounds.

To comprehend the future, we need to take some cues from the past. And we don’t have to look very far, do we? Over the past 20 years, our achievements – taken not only in isolation but also from a nationwide perspective – have been nothing but spectacular! The people associated with both regions have made substantial contributions in every field, enriching the very society they live in.

For instance, while Bengaluru and Silicon Valley may be considered the global IT hubs, Hyderabad is not far behind, and importantly, the knowledge, skill and the entrepreneurial ability of many who have crossed our frontiers played a key role in building these hubs. The icing on the cake – the man heading Microsoft today happens to be a Telugu bidda. Needless to say, over the years, many of these young minds have returned the favour, contributing significantly to the growing wealth and improved standard of living of the people in both regions.

The birth of Telangana is the culmination of a long and arduous journey, with hundreds of young people, mostly students, sacrificing their lives. Though conceived by the UPA government, ironically, the new State to be carved out of Andhra Pradesh will be delivered under the watchful eyes of the BJP government at the Centre. For politicians it was a marriage of convenience, but now that the statehood has been achieved, the commitments made over the long struggle must be implemented. TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao, who would be sworn in as the first Chief Minister of the new State today, had made several election promises, including jobs for the youth, reservation for minorities, free power and loan waiver for farmers, and two-bedroom houses for the poor, among several others. The above tasks need a clear vision, administrative ability, honest and impartial execution. While building a new State, the rich legacies left behind by the United Andhra Pradesh should be preserved and protected. At the same time several government departments and organisations may have outlived their use and exist only to provide jobs. With the shortage of staff, these departments could be either shut down or pruned to save money.

What is needed now is a mature approach to solve all the issues and problems. Whether it is Telangana or Seemandhra, the people speak the same language and follow the same culture. An attitude of give and take will benefit both the States. While Seemandhra got a raw deal in the bifurcation (as Modi said Andhra mother cried while Telangana baby was born), it has elected a man with a vision at its helm. We are sure N Chandrababu Naidu will turn around the State in 10 years as he has promised. Telangana is a land of opportunities, but its new rulers should not make it a land of opportunism. Being poor and suppressed for generations, people’s expectations and aspirations are more here. We hope KCR will not fail the people. While we are with the people, The Hans India will support all the progressive measures of the new government. Happy Birthday!