SEPARATE TELANGANA STATE

A Mockery, not a movement

By: Mahesh Ammanamanchi

I am writing the following article out of grief and pain, not out of glee and pleasure.

HISTORY

We all remember that a demand and a bloody agitation for a Separate Telangana state was launched in 1969 by the Late Dr. Chenna Reddy, who was an UNEMPLOYED politician then, which subsequently faded, when he was reemployed. Similarly, when KCR could not get into the Chandrababu’s Cabinet, and instead Vijayarama Rao, a new entry into politics, coincidentally belonging to the same caste as KCR, was inducted as a minister, a demand for Separate Telangana State came handy for KCR, who was an UNDEREMPLOYED POLITICIAN.

His efforts were bolstered by another UNDEREMPLOYED POLITICIAN, A. Narendra of the BJP, who was left alone to lick his wounds for not only missing a berth in Vajpayee’s cabinet, but also missing the opportunity of a consolation prize of becoming the State President of BJP. He also embarked on the same issue of a Separate Telangana State, which, as we all know now, has become a favorite weapon for every UNEMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED POLITICIAN.

And there are UNUSED POLITICIANS, who aspire for some position, inspite of being an elected member in the State or Center.

DEFINITIONS

Having used the terms UNEMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED POLITICIANS above, apart from some more, it is good to define them.

An UNEMPLOYED POLITICIAN is one who has been in politics for quite a while, but suddenly denied a ticket for some elections, or in the worst case scenario (best case for a common man) loses the election and languishing in the illegally occupied accommodation provided when he/she was a elected politician. In the US and other civilized nations, they are referred to as Law Makers, but unfortunately, in India, they can be better called as Law Breakers.

An UNDEREMPLOYED POLITICIAN is one who is an elected politician but failed in becoming a Minister in the State or Central cabinet, or any other office of profit, more commonly known as a Chairman of some Corporation, or something similar, with the same perks as a minister, at the tax payers’ expense.

(There are so many of the above, I cannot refer all the names, because of space shortage, but would like to mention a few, for your amusement, like V.Hanumantha Rao, Sarve Satyanarayana, Palvai Goverdhan Reddy, K.R. Amos, R. Damodar Reddy, .)

An UNUSED POLITICIAN is an elected member in the State or Center, but is not satisfied with what he/she has. (Examples: G. Venkataswamy, dreaming of becoming the President of India, or at least the Vice President, M. Satyanarayana Rao, aspiring to be a Governor of some state. Both of them are elected members of the State and Center)

An UNINTURREPTED POLITICIAN is one who continues to be an elected member (in the State or Center) and sometimes a minister, irrespective of political affiliations, for unknown reasons. (Examples: S. Jaipal Reddy, K. Jana Reddy, G. Sukhendar Reddy, etc).
I wish these people had some spine.

THE ISSUE

A SEPARATE TELANGANA STATE. Why? What For? And for Whom? As said earlier, a demand for the above has been a weapon for many politicians, as is a toy for a Kid during Christmas. If a politician is bored because of having a lot of leisure time, think and pursue an issue that will keep him/her fully engaged and many times, gainfully employed. The common people watch TV, go to restaurants, watch movies, take vacations, or do something that pleases themselves and their families/friends. And Guess, what our politicians do, Think and worry about Separate Telangana State.

BACKWARDNESS

Why is Telangana not developed, or as perceived so, by these jokers? Because, many of them, and the others that are straining their vocal cords now, do not have the intelligence to figure out what caused this. Many, or most of these people, who are now going on “FAST UNTO DEATH” exercises, speaking to the Media, or staging some kind of a drama, were elected members in the State and Center, occupied offices of profit, held positions of importance, were too busy with other things, when Telangana was suffering.

Let me elaborate on the above. Andhra Pradesh was formed several decades ago. Ever since then, people of the Telangana Region have elected Members of the State Legislature, Central Parliament, and some of these folks have been Ministers in the State and Center, Chief Ministers, Governors, and, fortunately, (we even had a Prime Minister), apart from holding other offices of prominence and profit. What were they doing then? Was Telangana Prosperous at that time? Was Telangana a developed Region then? Or, they were too busy pampering themselves with the spoils of power and not bothered about about the problems of Telangana, as they want to be now?

No doubt, Telangana is backward, as like other areas in India, or any other part of the World. But its been like that, or if it is like that, the elected politicians, ministers, Chief Ministers, Central Ministers, Governors, and all the other politicians who held offices of profit, from the Telangana Region, since the formation of Andhra Pradesh, are responsible, and to be blamed. It is like brooding over spilt milk. Either politicians of this kind should not be where they are, or the people of Telangana should not elect them any more.


FREEDOM AT MIDNIGHT

Congress (I), through P. Chidambaram, announced a Separate Telangana State close to midnight, recently. May be it was inspired with the British declaring that India will be an Independent Nation in the midnight. Nothing different from KCR making decisions during the night in non normal conditions. I expected PC will be different from KCR. Either he was in the same condition as KCR is every night, or he was a scapegoat, or succumbed to a few Congress (I) politicians from the Telangana Region, who were more interested in advancing their hidden agenda.

Congress (I) had an electoral alliance with TRS in 2004 and shared Parliament and Assembly seats with it. Some say Congress (I) agreed to carve out Telangana soon after the elections, some others say that it only agreed to constitute a Second SRC (States Reorganization Commission). So far, No one knows what are the details of their agreement. Much water flowed under the bridge, but no one knows the details of their agreement. In the Congress (I) scheme of things, the issue of a Separate Telangana State was relegated to the back burner, with some excuse or the other.

Congress (I), which is already known for deciding issues at midnight, like imposing Emergency in 1975, bungled the issue big time. Firstly announcing an important decision during the night, secondly, the Home Minister announcing it, when a Organizational Functionary could have done it, as it was still a political issue, and not an administrative or a constitutional one, and, thirdly, not consulting any other major political party, and not even their own state leaders. We all know that Telugu Desam, formed by the Late NTR, was a result of New Delhi having the remote control of the Television located in Andhra Pradesh.

Sonia Gandhi, the UPA Chairperson, is from Italy, which is in Europe. Two European countries, West and East Germany, were separate countries for a long time. They became an United Germany during Ronald Reagan’s Regime. All countries of Europe, including Italy, the birthplace of the Madam, as the spineless sycophants of Congress (I) refer and address her, became European Union, even having a common currency named as Euro.

POLITICAL PARTIES

Every Political Party in Andhra Pradesh, whether regional or a state unit of a National Party, contributed their mite to the recent fiasco. All Toms, Dicks, and, Harrys, were jostling to occupy a standing space on the over crowded bus known as Separate Telangana State. Many of them were even foot boarding, and some, hanging on to the bumpers of the bus. Senseless and Shameless passengers for whom we do not even feel sorry about.

Firstly, let us discuss about Congress (I). After so many years being out of power till 2004, forged an electoral alliance with TRS, which was demanding a Separate Telangana State. What and where were all these jokers, making a huge noise, were doing since then till now. Where were they?.Sleeping? Why did they not say and do what they are doing now? Was KCR’s fast a wake up call? All of those making a hue and cry, were waiting in the wings, for spoils of power and prosperity, and all of a sudden, woke up and realized, about the backwardness and development of Telangana now.

The elected politicians of Congress(I) are divided on the basis of where they belong to. Does anyone know what the party’s stand? If there is any. Since the so called “High Command” (Adishtana Vargam, as popularly referred to by the state level stooges) is already very confused, they are not able to issue a whip for the party’s elected politicians in the State to follow a party line. In Hindi, it is described as “Dhobi ka Gadha Na Ghar ka Na Ghat Ka).

Secondly,about Telugu Desam. What was the reason for having an electoral alliance with TRS in 2009, after having opposed the creation of a Separate Telangana State all along. Was it not a marriage of convenience? And now, the flip flops. Are they for it, or, against it. Nobody knows.
The elected members of TDP of Telangana speak a different language than their colleagues from Andhra and Rayalaseema. And poor Chandrababu, has no clue about what is happening. Having gone back and forth, he has no idea whether to support it or oppose it. In Telugu, it is “ Mundu Nuyyi, Venuka Goyyi”. Nagam Janardhan Reddy speaks French, Yerran Naidu speaks German, and, Gali Muddu Krishnama Naidu speaks Spanish. And our Friend Chandrababu, has to learn all these languages, having spent a long time learning Hindi, to be in the National Limelight.

Thirdly, the Poor BJP. Most of the Time, no one is able to figure out what their stand on any issue. Because their priorities change based on which side of the aisle they are on. When they are out of power, it is Temple, when they are in power, it may be Dimple, Simple, or who knows, may be Multiple??? They now roar from the rooftops that they created 3 states when they were in power. Yes, they did. Good. But none of the three had any bones of contention, like the previous division of Punjab and Haryana, when they had Chandigarh to fight about. And we all know, when Chandigarh became an issue, it was made an Union territory and a common Capital for both the states. And, God Forbid, If at all Telangana is carved out as a separate state, Hyderabad should be a common Capital like Chandigarh. Why not? It better be.

And then, all the other minor players, who exist just to fill in the minor gaps. PRP, CPI, CPM, Lok Satta, etc. Nobody knows why are they still surviving? May be to be listed as “also ran” like in a New York City Marathon. They remind me of slices of onions, tomatoes, lettuce, pepper, mushrooms, chutneys, in a nice spread of a Buffet Dinner. Or may be like boring Commercial Breaks while watching a funny movie. Like the

“Separate Telangana State”
K. Chandrashekhara Rao
Producer, Director, Screenplay, Music Director, etc, etc.

REALITY

As accused by the misguided elements spearheading the agitation for a Separate Telangana State, people from the Andhra and Rayalaseema region are not the only ones who are settled and doing business in Hyderabad. Gujaratis, Marwadis, Bengalis, Malayalis, Tamilians, and everyone else from all the other parts of India, have established businesses, employed people from Telangana, contributed to the prosperity of the region, paid taxes, developed Hyderabad and surrounding areas. So why are these “ Separate Telangana State” seekers only branding people from Andhra and Rayalaseema as looters, cheats, bandits, etc? Because, they are ignorant and misguided.

OK, they want a “Separate Telangana State”. Yes, let them have it. But, with a rider, Hyderabad will be a Union territory, as in the case of Chandigarh. Say that to them. They will either say Hyderabad is a part of Telangana, or, they may drop their demand for a separate state. This reminds me of a joke I heard a while ago.

After all the Prime Ministers India had, right from Jawaharlal Nehru thru Vajpayee, tried their best to resolve the Kashmir issue with Pakistan, Laloo Prasad Yadav went to Islamabad in a rickshaw to talk to Parvez Musharaff with the same objective. He came out of Musharaff’s office in a few minutes. The reason being, Laloo offered Musharaff to give away Kashmir to Pakistan, only if they were prepared to take Bihar along with it. And Musharaff did not accept the deal.

SUMMARY

Politicians demanding a ‘Separate Telangana State” are using the demand only to divert their constituents from the real issues. If people of Telangana were craving for a separate state, they would have elected politicians who were capable of accomplishing the objective. For example, 6 Lok Sabha and 42 Assembly Tickets were given to TRS in 2004. How many did they win? Why did many of the TRS Assembly members rebelled against KCR between 2004 and 2008? When all the TRS Parliament and Assembly members resigned because Congress(I) did not keep up its promise of creating a Separate Telangana State, and contested again, how many were able to retain their seats? And what was the difference in vote count in Karimnagar when KCR contested, recontested, and, re recontested? If the people of Telangana wanted to separate, every other party other than TRS would have not won a single Assembly, Parliament, or any local Body elections.

KCR, also known as K. Chandrashekhara Rao, should be better known as “KING OF THE CIRCUS RING”. Right from the Day 1, he had no credibility. He tried to improve his ratings from a minus to at least a plus one. And, after the 2009 elections, the minus became deeper. Even his own party people stopped caring about him. And, the absence of a Great Leader YSR’s demise became a boon and blessing for him to stage a Circus to regain the lost credibility, if he had any.

His political operation is somewhat similar to Bal Thakerey’s Shiv Sena in Maharastra. Raj Thakerey, Balasaheb’s nephew, struggled a lot to develop Shiv Sena, but was sidelined to develop Udhav, Balasaheb’s Son as the heir apparent for the fading Shiv Sena. And when Raj felt that he was a child of a lesser God, he left and formed a political outfit of his own. Though it is not wise to compare Shiv Sena and Balasaheb’s family to KCR, it is somewhat comparable. Harish Rao, nephew of KCR will be a AP Raj Thakerey because of K. Taraka Rama Rao, son of KCR.

“VIDHYARTHULA VIJAYAM” In English, it is Students Victory. VIDYA, in Telugu, is education. ‘ARTHULA” means some one who is working on gaining some thing. So, Students, working on gaining knowledge, to become better, to acquire knowledge that leads to earning a livelihood, are expected to making their lives prosperous and the society peaceful. And someone who floats around a University Campus, destroying Government property, causing Public Nuisance, and, creating hardships for a common man working hard to feed a few mouths, is not a “VIDYAARTHI”. Very unfortunate.

A FINAL NOTE

A “Separate Telangana State” is not happening anytime in the future. There is a saying in Telugu, when translated to English, it means that if there is wedding in the village, Dogs have a festival. All those who are reading the above, will definitely understand what I mean, and, I request everyone who is a Telugu Speaking Person, and, a person from wherever in India, whatever language you speak, whichever region you belong to, support this movement of keeping Andhra Pradesh UNITED.


JAI SAMAIKHYA ANDHRA PRADESH.