By: J R Janumpalli
Telangana has virtually become a never ending saga of struggle. The passage to freedom for Telangana unlike other regions in India is different. It had to wage an armed struggle even after independence to India and had to get liberated under tenuous circumstances to join Indian union. But, their savoring the fruits of freedom in their own state was short lived. Thanks to the forced merger with Andhra State. Since then it is set in a political paradox. That is the never ending struggle for freedom in a democracy.
The Indian government based on the region’s background and certain inapposite misgivings on communism and the Nizam has developed some subjective opinions on the region. The military intervention in the liberation had also lent some patronizing attitude to them. The biased actions of the Indian government and the Congress party which has presided over the destiny of this region all these years has played an adversarial impact on the lives of the people of this region. From 1948 to 1952 the military and civilian government administered by Indian government was insensitive to the needs of local people and have brought people from outside the region for their administrative exigency and set the tone for looking down the local people .The formation of Indian Republic and the first general elections of 1952 have brought the taste of real freedom to the people of Telangana in Hyderabad state. They were poised to take advantage of the riches and infrastructure accumulated by Nizam in and around Hyderabad city and the endowment of rich natural resources in the region to develop the impoverished hinterland. They were cruising along for a bright future, but, the fate willed otherwise. The formation of Andhra Pradesh state against the will of Telangana people changed it all.
If Telangana was allowed to be separated in 1956 as recommended by SRC, or separated in 1969 or in 1972 it would have developed like Haryana and would have been one of the prosperous states in the country. Andhra state also would have also established itself in to a premier state in the comity of states in the Indian union. Everything would have been hunky dory for both Telangana and Andhra people. The cussed complicity of Congress party and Andhras’ imperialistic political class has created this unfortunate muddle. The Congress party with its condescending attitude was always ready to arm-twist Telangana people for the benefit of andhras. It was studiedly indifferent to the violations of rights, agreements and safe guards provided to Telangana.
The 9 December 2009 declaration on Telangana State is a watershed in Telangana Struggle. If congress high command had put its foot down firmly, it would have settled the issue for the good of every body — Congress party, Telangana and Seemandhra.But as usual it has baulked. True to its bias for colonial Andhra it has quickly freezed the declaration taking advantage of the volte face of andhra politicians. And then started supporting ‘Andhra’ government overtly and covertly to suppress Telangana movement. The ‘Andhra’ government did everything to smother Telangana movement and stifle it in its tracks. But as their attempts have failed and the 2014 general elections are drawing closer they are under duress to take a decision. Yet, the obsessive fixation of Andhra political majority is still acting on the mind of congress high command. And they are embarking on new shenanigans which are again promising the repeat of the harmful effects of their earlier devices. The talk of package and the addition of two districts of Rayalaseema is a manifestation of this political paranoia.
It is shameful to think of a package to a region whose resources worth a few lakhs of crores of rupees were systematically exploited by Andhras.It is an open secret that Seemandhra continuously robbing the excess revenue from Telangana and spending in their region. Now offering financial package to Telangana is worse than adding insult to the injury. Even if it is thought acceptable for some reason, it will not be of any useful consequence. Given the history of Andhras most of the package will land in their laps and as is their wont they may even demand such packages for North coastal and Rayala seema areas also after some time as a quid pro quo. Sanctioning a package and a development board to administer it at this stage is absurd and is an example of political insolvency of Congress Party.
The proposal of creation of a new state with the addition of Kurnool and Anatapur districts is another example of political skulduggery of Congress party towards Telangana. It is totally against the spirit of creation of new states in the constitution and also against the very aspiration of Telangana people. It appears like placing a ‘lance on the flank’ of Telangana as a parting kick. It is a motivated political ploy and will be sowing the seed for another discord. It will be creating a nagging problem to the two resulting states, like the one in the present state. Therefore congress party thinking to divide A.P. state in to two equal states, like a cake for political numbers to solve Telangana problem will be an injudicious decision and is to be expressly avoided.
Time is running out. The Congress party should take an urgent decision to demerge Telangana, the region which was merged with Andhra state in 1956 to help form the new state before the ensuing general elections. Then only they can come out from the political mess created for them and survive in the state. The problem was created and compounded by Congress Party. The decision though tragically delayed can atone some of its misdemeanors to certain extent. Political sensibility lies in the creation of only Telangana state, neither more nor less.