Let sanity prevail

If the State was formed by a consensual agreement between the leaders, is not the same principle of consensual, mutual agreement applicable when the State is sought to be divided?

The abrasive manner in which Telangana Rashtra Samithi chief K Chandrasekhar Rao had spoken soon after the Congress Working Committee announcement of the decision to create a separate state of Telangana with Hyderabad as a joint Capital for 10 years on 30th July, 2013 that Seemandhra people have no option but to quit has stirred the conscience of Seemandhra people.

His audacious statement, even before any governmental action on the announcement, made Andhras jittery. The immediate reaction was if this is the tone and tenor of KCR what could be the dimensions when a new State is formed? A mass flight of Seemandhra people from Hyderabad, leaving their jobs and homes? Open tea shops ? Or, live like tourists? This militant voice and threat of deprivation had forced Seemandhras to launch a more strident counter- movement to assert and thereby vehemently protest for their rights.

Historically speaking, Sri Bagh Agreement between leaders of both regions constituted the basis of an integrated state and State of Andhra Pradesh had emerged as a constitutional entity on the 1st of November 1956 with Hyderabad as capital.

The argument that comes to the fore is: If the State was formed by a consensual agreement between the leaders, is not the same principle of consensual, mutual agreement applicable when the State is sought to be divided? Has the leadership of the Congress core committee, made any serious attempt to know the mind of the Seemandhra people before such a crucial and historic decision on the division of the State taken affecting the lives of millions of its people ? Do all party meetings and letters of support give any authority to assume power to divide the State? Was not a broader consensus necessary? Why Srikrishna Committee report was not discussed in Parliament ?

Political considerations, rather than people’s wishes, became dominating force in the decision-making process given the Congress party’s delaying tactics in the past. The opposition parties too believed that the Centre will not be taking such a momentous decision at such a short notice. The Congress leadership has thought that it has done a marvelous job in announcing the bifurcation of the State.

Since the announcement of the then Home Minister P Chidambaram that the "process of forming the state of Telangana will be initiated" on December 9, 2009, following KCR’s fast unto death, we have witnessed how KCR has spread his wings across Telangana with the Sakala Janula Samme, long marches and disruptions they caused to public life. To cap them all were disruptions and blockade of parliamentary proceedings.

It is in this background of agitation politics that the Congress leadership thought that the time was ripe to pave the way for conceding the demand for a separate state of Telangana, thereby ensuring that in the coming election in 2014, they can make a headway by a mutual arrangement with KCR. The ultimate objective is to defeat the opponents and make them scapegoats. Political power flows from politics of division. There is no going back, after all.

Do not blame Seemandhra leaders, they left no stone unturned! They are still continuing their battle. Now, an embittered Seemandhra people are on warpath. When they heard the announcement on 30th July evening, there was utter disbelief and shock. Their sentiments were deeply hurt. They ask: If Telangana becomes a State and Hyderabad is annexed, what would be their fate ? The employment, educational and living opportunities that Hyderabad has been providing all these years have given them stability and a sense of security; and that security is now being threatened.

The river waters issue and farmers’ plight in both regions have been rightly stressed as predominant. There is now a chaotic situation is Seemandhra and the mood of the people has changed into one of confrontation.

This is the outcome of CWC decision. CWC sitting as it does in war rooms in Delhi had not visualised the backlash that its decision could set off in Seemandhra. Or else, they thought such backlash could be suppressed with iron hand. Following the unprecedented ground swell of resentment the Antony Committee was constituted to address the Seemandhra people’s concerns. One hopes that it will not fail to see and assess the hopes and aspirations of Seemandhra people and find a solution acceptable to all.

Meanwhile, provocative speeches, derogatory and offensive statements should be avoided by leaders from both sides and they must restrain themselves and party cadres from making disparaging comments. Let there be no hatred. Let there be no forced solutions. Do not forget, we are inheritors of a thousand years of cultural and linguistic legacy and the first ever State formed on linguistic basis in independent India.