“We are on the threshold of realizing our dreams. The dreams will soon become a reality. It’s a step-wise climb for us. For 12 long years, we fought this magnificent battle in a united manner. From denial mode, the Centre is now definitely moving towards granting Telangana. Since this is a decades-long battle, it is natural that we congratulate ourselves. But, we need to be alert and be on-guard. Parliament has to pass the bill. It is not merely enough that the bill gets introduced. Many a time, this is what happens. We saw how Women’s Reservation Bill and SC,ST Employees’ Promotion bill are pending in Lok Sabha after having been passed in Rajya Sabha. Hence, it is not enough to introduce the bill. We need to be alert till it gets passed in Parliament. We will erupt into unprecedented celebrations only after this.
The Sakala Janula Samme of the employees, organized as part of the Telangana struggle, has no parallel in world history. The people of Telangana shall never forget this. Your role in the realization of Telangana state is unprecedented. The people of Telangana shall always adore you in their hearts. Unafraid of the government, unmindful of the threats of salary denials, regardless of the threats of stalling promotions, unconcerned about the warnings, the employees leaders – the then president Swami Goud, secretary Deviprasad and others – have provided inspiring leadership. One call from Hyderabad was enough to stall everything. We are aware of how the people of Telangana cooperated by forgoing even festivals like Batukamma and Dasara during the Sakala Janula Samme.
We have secured a great victory. In the days to come, the dreams of people shall be realized. I shall ensure that all the assurances given in the past to the employees like the special incentive for achieving Telangana shall be given to you as an incentive. We shall strive to achieve them on your behalf. We said we shall regularize all contractual employees. We shall regularize them cent per cent. They are now like bonded labour. We shall take every step for them and I shall put to use all the strength that the Almighty has given me for them. This is my assurance. Pay for the state government employees on par with the Central government employees. Our increment system is good, while their scales are better. We shall ensure that our increment system is continued and that we shall get their scales – not just for the present employees, but also for the pensioners.
At one stage, the Government refused to pay your salaries. It warned you against taking to the agitational path. At that time, I gave you an assurance during the course of my address at Vidyut Soudha. No matter if salaries are not paid. We shall somehow tide over for a month. I announced that the salary would be paid with interest after the attainment of Telangana. That salary has been paid recently in the form of ELs. I assure you that even that would be set right. We shall rid ourselves of this problem too. That’s how we must move forward.
I am taking up a few issues with the leadership. I met Deviprasad barely an hour after the recent announcement at the Gun Park. We shared joy unspeakable. The attacks on the Telangana employees were no ordinary attacks. Those who came on deputation….. I do not know if you remember or not… There were three motions to be given in the water works department. All the three posts were meant for Telangana employees. But, their claims were set aside and three employees from Rayalaseema were given promotions. Then the employees approached me. I sent Nayani Narasimha Reddy and a thousand youths and told them to attack the office and the officer in need be. Our boys broke the window panes and damaged some flower pots. The officer phoned me and complained about it. He said that our boys had resorted to hooliganism. Then I told him: “You get angry merely because flower pots are broken. How angry should we get when our lives are broken?” The officer agreed to correct himself. I told him to do it in five minutes. I told him that he had the necessary powers to do it. He did and our men got their promotions. How much protection can we give and how many more such cases shall we unearth? I was luckily in Hyderabad and Nayani was available on hand on that day. So we could retrieve the situation. The point is we shall get justice only when we get our Telangana state. All the Andhra employees working in Telangana will have to go to Andhra Government. There are no options. The government has to run in Andhra too. Let the Andhra Employees work in that government.
I shall definitely ensure that you get those special increments. All our people will get promotions. In the first stage, we need to make the necessary adjustments. Then promotions would be given. Subsequently, the bottomline vacancies would be filled. This was what we agreed upon and it would be done. In a few matters, Deviprasad and Ravinder Reddy would be in contact with you. All the employees associations would get instructions from their leaders. Please cooperate and provide with the information asked by the leaders. Please complete the tasks within the stipulated time. We shall move forward this way. You will all get the directions soon. The people from the districts should also be prepared. We had adopted a strategy when we began in 2001. We have had very back experiences in 1969. The then NGO leader Amos was sacked from his job under ESMA Act. There were ACB raids on him and he was harassed to no end. We had lost heavily. So we decided to begin on our own and then co-opt the employees after we reach a certain stage. For the last three years, the employees have chipped in greatly. My eyes become moist when I recollect a couple of incidents. One such magnificent event was the Udyoga Garjana (Employees’ Roar) held in Siddipet in protest against the injustice meted out to us.
Normally such meetings draw few thousand people. But, lakhs of employees converged in Siddipet. It was no mere roar. It was like a magnificent roar. I spoke at that meet. Even now few people say I spoke of Jago Bhago. When did we speak of it. We did not talk of Bhago. What I said was different. What was made out was different. I asked only those who usurped our jobs in an unjust manner to Bhago. I never asked the others to go away. It was their creation. Even now, my effigies are being burnt in Andhra region. I consider them to be blessings for me. Over 10 lakh people have criticized me. You have seen as to how many of my effigies were burnt. It was at this juncture that I organized Udyoga Garjana against 14 F under the leadership of Swami Goud. I said there was no use if this was allowed to continue any further. I told myself to do or die and sat on fast unto death. People like Swami Goud were worried that I may die and the movement would be bereft of leadership. Then I told Swami Goud that everything was in their hands and that there was little time. I asked them to cooperate with me by organizing a pen-down strike. They joined me and organized an unprecedented pen down stir. I am at loss for words describing those tumultuous events. I continued my fast despite the adamant attitude of the Centre. I still feel the pain of those days in NIIMS. During the fast, I used to test my physical condition by going to the washroom. I use to walk holding my hands against the wall. On Day 11, I found that I was unable to walk the way I wanted. I thought I had lost control. That very evening, Swami Goud and other employees’ union leaders came and entreated me to call off the fast lest the movement become orphaned. I told Swami Goud that I believed that something would happen soon and that I be allowed to continue my fast for one day more. I told him that I have the will power to live for another day and that my self-belief would finally pay off. Swami Goud agreed and said that he would no more listen to me from the next day and that I should call off the fast from the next day. My inner voice was proved right. At 3 AM, Chidambaram spoke to Jayashankar sir. By that time, I had lost my voice. You know what happened later. At about 11.20 PM, the announcement came. All the leaders of the employees union had offered me a glass of juice to mark the end of the fast. But the joy of victory was short-lived. By sunrise, the resignations drama began and the Telangana state was stalled again. Yet, we continued our struggle. You had extended your support through Sakala Janula Samme and several other strikes. Several government departments and JACs staged protests. I know not of anyone who had not participated in the Telangana movement.
When we held a meeting of the JAC of engineers, we though only about 50 per cent of the officials would turn up in view of the pressures of the job. But, over 9000 employees had turned up for the meeting. I bow my head to all those associations and greet them. You had relentlessly prodded me to move forward with courage.
Telangana state should have an employee-friendly government. The employees should get relief on announcement of Telangana. I shall compulsorily ensure that you get special increments. You should be in the forefront of the future progress. The Sakala Janula Samme was a huge success in Singareni Collieries. Earlier agitations were never cent per cent successes. This time not piece of coal was produced. Such was the success of the movement. Regardless of the union differences, everyone owned up the agitation and demonstrated inspirational participation. They thought this was a fight for their wards and their people. Today, we are about to be liberated. But, let us not rest till we see smiles on the faces of the Dalits, tribals, weaker sections and the ordinary people. Till then, we shall continue our revolutionary inspiration. Telangana has great resources. We have enough revenue. Hence, we shall work in a united manner for the Telangana of our dreams and for bringing smiles on every face in Telangana. Let us make Telangana a top state and the No 1 state in India. We shall realize every dream that we had dreamt.
You have come here in such large numbers to attend the state executive meet of the TNGOs. You had patiently waited despite my delay due to indisposition. I am grateful to each one of you for attending such a great meeting.
Jai Telangana… Jai Jai Telangana.”