In defense Of Mulki Rule (Nativity), KCR, Telangana people

I have high regard for Mr PNV Nair, Editor of The Hans of India and much confidence in his wisdom earned through a long and luminous life as a journalist of high calibre and integrity. I am writing this piece in response only to set the record straight and not to challenge Mr Nair's call for a harmonious relationship between two neighboring States – Telangana and Residual Andhra Pradesh.

Yet, I am compelled to come to the defense of Telangana and thus KCR. Neither KCR nor, by extension, the people of Telangana hate Andhras in the slightest because it is not in the DNA of the Telangana People to hate others. KCR is one such person of Telangana. I and people of Telangana believe earnestly that hatred is debilitating and self-destructive. However, it may be conceded that People of Telangana and KCR may be apprehensive of continued hegemony from Andhra leaders and thus forced to be very careful.

Requiring Nativity (Mulki) as a qualification to receive benefits such as education, employment and promotions is normal and standard procedure in just about all States in the Indian Union. Telangana has such Standards to be followed. Not every State has the same requirements to obtain Nativity or Domicile Certificates. Let me quote a few States and their Nativity/Mulki/Domicile qualifications:

(HTTP://www.indiangovernmentwebsite.com/how-do-i-obtain-a-domicile-certificate.html)

Himachal Pradesh: A Bonafide Himachali is a person who has a permanent home in Himachal Pradesh, as also a person who has been residing in Himachal Pradesh for a period not less than 15 year ... employees of Himachal Pradesh, whether permanent or temporary, are not automatically entitled to the issue of Bonafide certificates of Himachal Pradesh unless they satisfy the precise pre-requisites prescribed for the issue of the said certificates

Rajasthan: Nativity or Domicile certificate is issued to a person who has been residing in the State of Rajasthan for 10 years or more.

Tripura: A Domicile Certificate in Tripura, also known as a Permanent Resident Certificate, is issued to a person who has a permanent home in the State, and includes a person who has been residing in the State for a period of not less than 10 years, immediately prior to the date of application for the certificate

Uttarkhand: In this category, the residents of the state, who have been residing in the State for at least 15 years, or who are having a permanent home in the State. A permanent home means that the person is living ancestrally/ having an ancestral house in the State.

It is, therefore, evident that each State is free to set up its own Residency (Mulki) requirements for its citizens to qualify for State benefits. Telangana State obviously has its own Residency requirements called the Mulki Rules for its citizens to receive benefits in education, employment, and financial support.

It is very pertinent and important to quote the essence of the original “Mulki Rule” : Mulki was defined as one who was born in the State of Hyderabad or resided there continously for fifteen years and had given an affidavit that he abandoned the idea of returning to his native place.

Please note that it is not enough to have lived for 15 years continuously but also must furnish an affidavit that the person abandoned the idea of returning to his native place!

None other than the Supreme Court of India upheld that the Mulki Rules were valid constitutionally and that they continued to be in effect in Telangana even after the merger with Andhra in 1956.

Therefore, and emphatically, it is not vindictiveness on the part of KCR to enforce the Supreme Court validated Mulki Rules in the State of Telangana. It is proper and appropriate on the part of the Telangana Government, headed by the CM Mr KCR to do so. If KCR did not do so then he would have been branded a sell-out and even a traitor by the people of Telangana.

In this context, it is necessary to point out that the Telangana Movement fought for almost sixty years is essentially to regain protections of the Mulki Rule and the Gentlemens Agreement of 1956. Otherwise there would be no meaning to having our own State finally. It would be a complete travesty of justice if we couldn't enforce Mulki Rules.

According to this Wiki article ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fee_Reimbursement_Scheme_(Andhra_Pradesh) ):

” Fee Reimbursement Scheme also called as Post Matric Scholorship is a student education sponsorship Programme by Government of Andhra Pradesh. It supports students belonging to economically weaker sections in the state.[1][2] In 2012-13, more than 600,000 students in professional colleges were covered under the scheme, including around 150,000 students in engineering colleges. From 2013 to 2014, the government has made Aadhaar number mandatory for students availing the scholarship. The Fee Reimbursement programme was started in 2008 during the tenure of Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy.[4] The government spent Rs.2,000 crore in 2008-09 and shot up to Rs.5, 000 crore in 2012-13. The scheme covers students pursuing professional courses like engineering, medicine, MBA, MCA, B Ed etc. Engineering gets Rs 52,000 funding per year. The new clause introduced by the Telangana government has affected around 39,000 Andha-origin students ...”

It is obvious that the parents of these students work and or live and pay taxes in the new residual Andhra Pradesh State. Then is it not the responsibility of CBN's AP government to reimburse the fees? It is all too clear that these students are from Seemandhra otherwise Naidu and his government would not be making such hue and cry about their fee reimbursement.

It is neither the moral or fiscal responsibility of Telangana Government to pay for these students' education. But, it is certainly the moral and fiscal responsibility of the residual AP government to pay for their students' education. It is clearly evident that the politicians and ministers of the AP government continue their attempts to bleed Telangana dry. Instead of criticising and scolding KCR and Telangana on this issue we should call the bluff of Chandrababu and his government and actually take them to task. Comparing Permanent Residents of US and their rights and privileges in US may not be pertinent here.

KCR and the people of Telangana are sick and tired of being the “water boys” (serving others – Seemandhras). All they want to have is their life together without others' hegemony.