Bifurcation and aftermath

Even though the Central government may be prepared to spend billions of rupees on creating a new capital city in Seemandhra, it can’t be another Hyderabad even after 100 years

Creation of smaller states will be a historical mistake. If I am not wrong, history repeats itself. At one time India was ruled by kings, later by the British who exploited the situation and ruled the country for 300 years. Already our country is facing threats from China and Pakistan. So, only big states can do justice to the slogans given by the late Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi on national integration.

Because of the State division move, some companies are pulling out of Hyderabad and out of AP. If the State is bifurcated, the situation in Hyderabad, both real estate and industries, will be precarious.

Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has pointed out that a lot of investment has been made in the capital city and the successive governments and corporates have set up several industries, educational institutions and super speciality hospitals in and around Hyderabad. People from all the three regions depend on Hyderabad for employment opportunities, better education and health facilities. “Hyderabad belongs to everyone. How will the interests of millions of people from Seemanadhra be taken care of?” the Chief Minister said.

Even though the Central government may be prepared to spend billions of rupees on creating a new capital city in Seemandhra, it can’t be another Hyderabad even after 100 years. Hyderabad is home for a number of R&D centres, Central institutions and training centres in almost all fields. There are 13 well-equipped universities in Hyderabad. Even though the late Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy okayed new universities, they were started without individual buildings and campuses in Seemandhra area. Universities like Nannaya, Krishna, Kurnool, etc are run in degree colleges.

During the NDA rule, BJP created new states like Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand. Until now, the financial support promised by the Central government has not reached them.

The separation of AP is only a political move, not for the development of the State. It caters to the needs of only politically unemployed people. The present young generation will face acute unemployment and already all universities in Telangana are refusing to admit Seemandhra students in research programmes. Worse, political leaders are constructing walls between the Telugu speaking people.

Chief Minister Kiran Kumar said that he was for a united Andhra Pradesh and that the Centre should address the basic problems of water-sharing, power shortage and the status of Hyderabad, the capital city. “A problem cannot be solved by creating bigger problems,” said Reddy. “If Telangana state is formed, it will face a 50 per cent shortfall in the availability of power,” said the Chief Minister, quoting statistics. Telangana at present consumes 115 million units of power every day as against the generation of 57 million units in the region. “Several lift-irrigation projects are coming up here. Where will the new state get the power from?” Reddy said.

We got independence unitedly under the dynamic leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. So always be united and try for the development of the country.

(The writer is Professor at Swarnandhra Institute of Engineering & Technology, Seetharamapuram, West Godavari District)