By: J R Janumpalli
The draft T-Bill is like any other state reorganization Act. But, Telangana State has certain inherent differences from other states created earlier. It is a separation from the conditional union with Andhra state, because of the tyranny of the majority of Seemandhras in the united state.Here certain idiosyncratic issues have cropped up because of the political hegemony and the reactionary behavior of Seemandhras. Therefore, there is a long war of attrition in taking the decision for division and in the preparation of the Bill. After the CWC resolution to form Telangana State, the buzzword now is GOM and its agenda. Like SKC the GOM also invited representations and views on its terms of reference from the public.If the information so received is sifted to find solutions to the terms of references is a moot question. It looks that people are given a chance, as a regulation, to say something on the agenda. The GOM itself is meeting sporadically and discussing the issues lackadaisically, just to lend it a formality. Actual work is being done behind the scenes as per the exigency of Congress party and machinations of Seemandhra political outfits. A broad frame work to serve the interests of Congress Party seems to have been already worked out. Conditions are being manipulated to ground the plan.
As our Telangana parties are watching listlessly from the sidelines, Seemandhras are making a big racket and indulging in blackmail, as they only are capable. It appears that their effort is working. On many of the contentious issues they are able to brow beat Congress party and are manipulating GOM recommendations on those issues in their favor. The latest stand of BJP also suggests that Seemandhra lobbying is working.Anthony Committee is reported to be endorsing many of the self-serving interests of Seemandhras like joint capital, revenue sharing and no review of prior land grabbing etc.
Thanks to Special taskforce recommendations —– it now looks certain that Seemandhra’s strangle hold on Hyderabad for 10 years is being guaranteed in some shape or other. It is said that Hyderabad will be made a ‘UT’ without calling it a ‘UT’, with Law and order, Land Policy, Education, Municipal administration etc. vested with the center and administered by Governor via 258-A. Seemandhras in Hyderabad are going to be perhaps the most favored Indian nationals in the country with special privileges vouchsafed by central government.Telangana state government will be kept on probation for 10 long years in Hyderabad, because Seemandhras would not like to submit to the authority of Telangana government. Will it be like granting the Seemandhras, separate set of laws, including ownership of property, and fundamental rights, as compared to other Indians, as in the case of rule 370 in Kashmir?. It is likely that, the crafty Seemandhras would not like to give up such a cozy arrangement at the end of the 10 year period.
In addition they are also getting most of their big wish list granted by the central government with regularizing many of the earlier forged privileges in Hyderabad. Their share in jobs, seats in colleges/Universities in Hyderabad which were used to be grabbed in the sly are being made legal now. They are going to get IIT, IIM/IIMS/Central Universities exclusively for themselves, where Telanganites may not get any share. It is also likely that their illegal use of river water is being legalized in some form or other. Their staff who have grabbed Telangana jobs in government are likely to be retained in Hyderabad with all the privileges at the cost of Telangana.Their backward areas will get financial package for special development programs. It seems Congress Party is granting most of the wish list of Seemandhras, as a ‘nazarana’ in exchange for the release of impoverished Telangana state from Seemandhra bondage. And then leaving Telangana in the lurch with all its irreparable losses and loss of its face in its own Hyderabad city. There appears to be a plan being hatched to squeeze the Telangana State to the fag end of this parliament and force a severely compromised separate state down the throat of Telangana people, without giving them much time to react.
If these things happen, after all the suffering of Telangana in the last 57 years, it will be a shame to our democracy and its constitution. If Congress Party and Central government cannot understand why Telangana is asking for separation and wants to reward its oppressor as a ‘quid pro quo’ to the granting of the state this way, it will be a great miscarriage of justice to the minority group suffering from the tyranny of the majority. It will be against the very spirit of article 3 of our constitution. Creation of the new state in such a callous and lopsided manner has no meaning at all.
It might sound very alarmistic and fixated. But,our past experience suggests that these apprehensions may not be very much off the mark. You know what is happening now to 10 year tag and inclusion of awful Polavaram Project in the CWC resolution. Similarly if certain things are recommended by GOM it becomes very difficult to get rid of them later in the process. Therefore all our T-outfits must know what is cooking in GOM and do whatever they can to see that the T-dish does not turn out to be very unsavory in the end. Let us all try not to make it a mere ‘pyrrhic’ achievement after all this magnificent movement.