TRS-SKC...abt FAQ's

FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

The demand for a separate state of Telangana is naturally raising a number of questions. Some are raised out of ignorance, some out of bias and some out of concern for maintaining status quo. In any case these questions need to be answered. Some of them are answered here:

1. Why the issue of separate Telangana is being raised again and again?

The demand of the people of Telangana for a separate state is not a new development. It was voiced much before the formation of Andhra Pradesh and continues to be raised even thereafter. The reason for the resistance of people of Telangana to join Visalandhra was fear of neglect, injustice and exploitation in the enlarged state; and, the reason for their reluctance to continue in the present State is the actual experience of becoming victims of neglect, injustice exploitation.

2. Is it not a bogey raised, off and on, by the disgruntled politicians?

If it were to be so, how could the demand sustain itself for nearly five decades? Opportunistic elements do infiltrate in to any movement of the people; but such aberrations cannot undermine, every time, the genuine aspirations of the people. When formulations ranging from the extreme left to the extreme right of the political spectrum support the demand for a separate state, in some form or the other, does it not reflect popular urge of the people? Can it be brushed aside for ever? What about the voice being constantly raised by the intelligentsia, practitioners of learned professions, students and youth who do not have any vested interests in practical politics? Is it of no consequence? Can it be ignored just like that?

3. Is there no alternative to the demand for a separate state?

All possible alternatives have already been experimented with – The Gentlemen’s Agreement, The All Party Accord, The Eight Point Formula, The Five Point Formula, The Six Point Formula and what not? Were they not experiments to safeguard the interests of Telangana within the integrated state of Andhra Pradesh? Has any of these agreements been implemented? Has any of these solemn pledges been redeemed? Has any of the judicial pronouncements, including the verdict of Supreme Court of India, been honoured? Now, what else is left to be further experimented with?

4. What did the Chief Ministers who belonged to this region do while they were in power?

P. V. Narasimha Rao, M. Chenna Reddy and T. Anjaiah did become Chief Ministers of the state. But what was the tenure of all of them put together? It was hardly 5 ½ years, in the State’s history of 54 years; that too, in bits and pieces - to be precise - in four spells and each spell spanning a few months. It should be noted that J. Vengal Rao was a migrant from Coastal area. He never came out of his moorings and he never identified himself with the hopes and aspirations of people of Telangana. Some of his decisions caused immense damage to the region.

P. V. Narasimha Rao made a feeble attempt in 1972 to implement the verdict of Supreme Court validating the Mulki Rules. The verdict was in favour of Telangana. But the reaction from the other regions was so instantaneous and so wild that in the process P. V. Narasimha Rao lost his Chief Minister ship and the Telangana region lost all its safeguards. Even the verdict of the highest judicial authority of the country was nullified. M. Chenna Reddy known as a strong man of his times, was hounded out by communal violence instigated and organized by Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy.

This can happen to any leader from Telangana in that position. Because, their survival depends upon the support of the area which has a numerical majority in the political setup and has greater money power to influence the political process and administrative machinery. The problem, therefore, lies essentially in the nature of political equations between the developed and backward regions, and not necessarily in the persons holding positions of power. The fact is that no political party allows the Telangana leadership to grow; and by any chance it grows, it will not be allowed to survive. The States Reorganization Commission eloquently commented upon this aspect.

Even if it is assumed that the leaders of a region becoming chief ministers can contribute to the development of that region, then why do the people of Rayalaseema complain of backwardness? This State has been ruled for more than two and a half decades by the chief ministers hailing from that region. And, that too, not by ordinary men, but by stalwarts like N. Sanjeeva Reddy (twice), D. Sanjeevaiah, K. Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy (twice) and N. Chandrababu Naidu (twice) and Y. S. Rajasekhar Reddy (more than once).

5. Rayalaseema and North Coastal Andhra also are backward. What is so special about Telangana to ask for a separate state on this score?

It is true that these two regions also are relatively backward. They too have been, like Telangana, victims of neglect. But Telangana has an additional problem i.e. exploitation in the form of diversion of its resources, which legitimately belong to it, for the development of other regions. Best - or worst - examples are diversion of river waters, coal and other natural resources, financial resources, employment opportunities and so on. This has been going on unabated. The other two regions do not have such problem. That Rayalaseema is relatively better developed than Telangana in several aspects, especially education, is a different story. So is the case with regard to industrial development of Visakhapatnam in North Coastal Andhra.

Further, Telangana can be a viable unit as a separate state and can be better developed. This was also endorsed by the SRC. Above all, the people of the region want to have it. Why should the people of Telangana keep quiet even if their counterparts in Rayalaseema and North Coastal Andhra are contented with whatever they have?

6. How many smaller states can this country have?

More than half of the states in the country are smaller than Telangana. They are: Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Mizoram, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Goa, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttaranchal. Further, West Bengal and Kerala also are smaller than Telangana in geographical area. Then why all doubts about and objections to conferring statehood on Telangana, which would be the largest of the smaller states in the country?

7. What about linguistic unity and cultural identity?

Next to Hindi, largest number of people in India speaks Telugu. If there can be nine Hindi speaking states with the possibility of some more coming up, what is wrong in having more than one state for Telugus? It may be recalled that the SRC recommended the creation of separate Telangana state in addition to the already existing Andhra state. The SRC, in fact, never wanted language to be the sole criterion for reorganizing Indian states. The most intriguing part of the whole argument of the so-called linguistic unity is that the Telangana dialect is ridiculed with impunity especially by the cine field and mass media. Who controls them is an open secret. Can such things go on without the connivance of ruling classes? Otherwise what hell the agencies expected to censor films and TV serials are doing? In such humiliating conditions what is the significance of linguistic and cultural unity? Has it not become totally meaningless?

8. Are the Naxalites responsible for the backwardness of Telangana?

This question has become some sort of a political slogan of the ruling classes. Therefore, it needs to be examined dispassionately. While doing so one need not agree with the philosophy of Naxalites and certainly need not endorse their acts of violence. The issue on hand is different. If the argument of the government is based on facts, it should be substantiated with empirical evidence. How does one explain the following facts?

- Mahabubnagar district is less affected by the Naxalite Movement as compared to the North Telangana districts. Then how is it that Mahabubnagar is more backward than all the districts of North Telangana? It is not only the most backward district in the region and the state but is also one of the 200 backward districts listed in the entire country.

- Kothagudem Thermal Plant and Ramagundam Thermal Plant are in the areas where the Naxalites were very active for more than three and a half decades. How is it that various stages of development of Kothagudem Thermal Plant are being completed ahead of the schedule? How is it that Ramagundam Thermal Plant is getting awards year after year for its good performance?
- The entire coal belt is in Naxal-effected areas of the Telangana region. The coal produced here is transported on a large scale to other regions without any hindrance. Have the Naxalites obstructed this activity any time?

- Even a private sector industry, the AP Rayon’s, is functioning well in the midst of Warangal forests - the nerve centre of Naxalite activity. How is it functioning if Naxals are a hindrance?

- Visakhapatnam district also is an important centre for Naxals. How is it that Vizag has emerged as a major industrial town not only in the state but also in the entire country?

- Besides not starting any new industries in the region, several industries established by the much-maligned Nizam have been closed one after the other. Examples: Azamjahi Mills, Sir Silk Factory, Anthargaon Spinning Mills, Republic Forge and DBR Mills. The Allwyn factory and the Nizam Sugar Factory have already been sold. Are the Naxalites responsible for the closure of all these industries?

- The Telangana Movement of 1968-69 was a massive revolt of the people against the exploitation of the region. Where were the Naxalites then?

It should be realized that the growth and spread of Naxalite Movement in Telangana is a consequence of backwardness of the region and not a cause for its backwardness. But the powers that be are trying to reverse the causal relationship. The people of the region have a feeling, and justifiably so, that the ruling sections will see to it that the issues emanating from the Naxalite Movement are never attended to with the seriousness and earnestness they deserve. They have a vested interest in doing so. They can use it as a pretext to further neglect the region in the realm of development.