By Priyashree Andley
As the Cabinet meets to discuss the Telangana issue, many parties and groups are holding protests for and against Hyderabad to become the joint capital of AP and ultimately capital of Telangana. The Congress leadership decided to divide Andhra Pradesh to create a separate state of Telangana. The ongoing debate is whether this is move will be a loss to the politically stronger state and a gain for the Congress in the state, ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
KC Rao, Telangana Rashtra Samiti President, has stated that Hyderabad as a common capital should be transitory and his party was okay with the idea on humanitarian grounds, but he and his party are unwilling to compromise whatsoever on statehood for 10 districts of Telangana with Hyderabad as its capital. He has asked the supporters of Telangana to be prepared for another agitation if the decision is not in their favour and asserts that the Centre should act before 6 October 2013.
So, in this current scenario what does the Cabinet plan to do next for the safety and security of people living and working in Hyderabad today?
The Union cabinet meeting slated for 3rd October 2013 confirmed that the cabinet note on Telangana was approved and Hyderabad would be the joint capital for ten years. However, disagreements between the Congress high command and its leaders who are defying its decision to bifurcate the state are still not resolved.
In the middle of protests and agitations, come politics and blame games where KC Rao is accusing the current CM Kiran Kumar Reddy of a biased stand in favour of Seemandhra. As per latest news reports, he has stated that there are limited days left for the CM’s power in office as he was unfit to be the Chief Minister since he was behaving as the leader of one particular region. Moreover, allegations are also being levelled against TDP president Chandrababu Naidu and YSR Congress president YS Jaganmohan Reddy, who are being called Telangana betrayers as they were born in Seemandhra.
KC Rao has criticised the claims of Naidu that the Seemandhra region must be given Rs 5 lakh crore as compensation for the bifurcation. He asserts that Telangana instead, deserved the compensation since the region had been suffering for a very long time after its merger with Andhra Pradesh is 1956.
In the midst of pressure politics, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has given a go-ahead to the draft prepared for presentation before the Cabinet. He was waiting for the recommendations of the committee headed by Defence Minister A.K. Antony. This committee is going to hear the concerns of all stakeholders in the wake of the Congress Working Committees decision on Telangana. But is it possible to convince leaders with different opinions who are involved in vote-bank politics, at this level?
As per news reports, the Home Minister was expected to present the draft before Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for political clearance. After finalisation, it was sent to the Law Ministry before being presented to the Cabinet. After giving its approval to the creation of Telangana, the Cabinet is expected to set up a Group of Ministers to review in detail the issues arising out of the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.
What we as citizens of India, need to keep in mind is that after formation Telangana will be the 29th State of India. However, major concerns of the local population based in the region need to be met as soon as possible, ranging from water crises management, infrastructure development to property or real estate prices in a suitable manner and a suitable timeframe.
Moreover, growing uncertainty hampers the security in the region as the Union Cabinet’s decision to clear Telangana has been unacceptable to YSR Congress party chief Jaganmohan Reddy. He has clarified that his party will fight a legal battle to stall the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and has called for a 72-hour bandh starting on 4th October 2013. He also hinted that he could undertake an indefinite fast in protest against the Centre’s decision. What can the Centre do next to prevent disturbance in the region?
Priyashree is an independent analyst and focuses on International Relations, Foreign Policy and Current Affairs. She has several years of experience working in both the public and private sector. Her research has taken her across India with publications appearing in national as well as international media. Priyashree is a Felix Scholar from SOAS, London and has degrees from JNU and St. Stephens College, Delhi.