T state, inevitable and desirable – Kishan Reddy
News pulse, Politics | admin | May 21, 2011 at 8:07 am
The Hindu has argued editorially that a just and sustainable solution to the Telangana issue can be found within an undivided Andhra Pradesh. Here is an Op-Ed article by a BJP legislator that presents a contra-argument.
In the winter of 1953, the Fazal Ali Commission was set up to reorganise the States of the Indian Republic. Its recommendation to go about creating States on linguistic lines, indirectly paved the way for the creation of Andhra Pradesh. Andhra was formed from the northern districts of the erstwhile Madras state and the southern districts of the erstwhile Hyderabad state — though the committee itself did not advocate such a merger and was against it.
Fifty-six winters later, the very concept of the creation of States based on linguistic lines has become passé. We need to look for fresh parameters for the creation of States, and that has to be based on holistic development on economic and social lines for better administration and management. This fact has been proven with the creation of Chhattisgarh from Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand from Bihar and Uttaranchal from Uttar Pradesh.
Two issues that seem to be at the centre of the contention between the two regions of Andhra Pradesh is the future of Hyderabad and the repercussions in terms of the sharing of river waters from the completed and planned irrigation projects after the division of the State. Any entity, political or otherwise, that is able to find pragmatic solutions to this conundrum would not only earn the respect of the people of the State but also help set a precedent in the matter of contentious State divisions in the future.
Economics of small States
The case for small States can be argued with two parameters of macroeconomic statistics from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The first parameter is the percentage increase in Gross Domestic Product for States between 1999-2000, when the smaller States were created, and 2007-2008. India’s overall GDP increased by 75 per cent during this time period. During the same period, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttaranchal recorded more than 100 per cent, 150 per cent and 180 per cent increase respectively. These rates were much above the rate at which national GDP increased. This clearly indicates that the recent creation of smaller States was a step in the right direction.
Experts have often argued that the creation of smaller States has been at the expense of the States they were created from. For all its lack of governance, Uttar Pradesh grew by more than 21 per cent of the national average during this time period.
The second parameter, the percentage contribution of States to national GDP, helps negate the myth of smaller States growing at the expense of the States they are created from. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh each contributed the same amount to national GDP. While the contributions of Bihar and Madhya Pradesh increased by 0.01 per cent and 0.06 per cent respectively, Uttar Pradesh’s contribution to national GDP increased by 1.2 per cent during the same time period. This is more than Chhattisgarh’s percentage increase in the contribution of 0.64 per cent to national GDP, the highest increase among the three newly created smaller States.
Capital politics
Hyderabad is an integral part of Telangana and a Telangana State without Hyderabad as the capital is inconceivable. However, the militant rhetoric of some political parties has made people of other areas feel unwelcome, creating an air of mistrust among the Telugu-speaking people of various regions. This is not only constitutionally illegal but also extremely foolish as it affects the image of Brand Hyderabad. Everybody who has come to Hyderabad in search of a better quality of life must be protected. Rhetorical slogans such as Telangana waalon jaago, Andhra waalon bhago gives the impression of an exclusionist movement that forces people of the non-Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh out of Hyderabad rather than a movement where the people of Telangana want greater autonomy for their region. Significantly, when Maharashtra and Gujarat were created from the then Bombay state on the recommendation of the States Reorganisation Commission, there was fear about Mumbai losing its importance as a financial nerve-centre as a lot of investment in Mumbai had been made by Gujarati business people. The creation of two separate States did not halt Mumbai’s rapid development. In fact, it additionally paved the way for the development of Ahmedabad and Surat as alternative financial centres. Hyderabad can emulate the same model. As in the past 400 years, the city can continue to welcome people with open arms rather than close its gates to fresh talent and creative ideas.
The people of the Andhra and Rayalaseema regions feel that the benefits reaped from Hyderabad must be accessible to all those who have been equal stakeholders in the city’s development. The solution to this is not alternative models such as according Hyderabad the status of a Union Territory or making Hyderabad a joint capital for the States carved out of present-day Andhra Pradesh. These solutions are just not practical. A better approach would be to plan a special financial package for the development of a new State capital for the non-Telangana region. Pragmatism would dictate that the special package be funded through some form of cess on the city of Hyderabad for a limited period rather than running to large financial institutions for loans, as has been proposed by some political entities.
Social dynamics of water
About 70 per cent of the catchment area of the Krishna and close to 80 per cent of the catchment area of the Godavari is located in the Telangana region. Across the world, water distribution and sharing schemes between two areas is calculated on the basis of the percentage of the catchment area that lies in the region. Other factors that influence water-sharing accords is the population of a given region, the projected usage of water for industry and the domestic population, and the physical contours of the region through which the river flows.
Take the instance of the Godavari, where the areas planned for large dams in the Telangana have not been found feasible for various reasons. As the Sriramsagar project on the Godavari already exists, it is not feasible to build another large dam on the Godavari until after the Pranahitha tributary joins the Godavari. There is not enough water to be harnessed on a continuous basis for the project to be economically feasible if the dam is built before the Pranahitha joins the main river. The Inchampally project, a national project whose benefits are to be shared between the States of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, was one such large project that was proposed. Though the project was conceived a long time ago, it has run into typical issues that are usually associated with projects that have multiple States as stakeholders. Though Andhra Pradesh, by large, is the main beneficiary of the project, the project plan estimates more forest land being submerged in Maharashtra (47.7 per cent) than in Andhra Pradesh (29.9 per cent; all land in Telangana). An equal amount of cultivable land will be submerged in Chhattisgarh (41.8 per cent) and Andhra Pradesh (42.2 per cent; all land in Telangana). And, more villages that belong to Maharashtra (100) will be submerged as compared to Andhra Pradesh (65). This has obviously made the other States reluctant to move as quickly as Andhra Pradesh on this project.
The link canal that has been planned between Inchampally and Nagarjuna Sagar that is proposed to irrigate the regions of Telangana in between also involves prohibitive costs as a result of the 107-metre lift that is required for the water to reach the Nagarjuna Sagar. The lift itself will require a separate hydro-electric power project for the project to be feasible. Commonsense and pragmatism would have ensured that a project in Kanthamapalli or Kaleswaram be pursued. Additionally, three smaller step- dams between Yellampalli and Sriramsagar must be devised with a realistic State-level river-interlinking plan. Inchampally is not an exception, but the trend in how political leaders across the aisle in Telangana have been caught up in the big-projects-to-line-my-pockets mentality at the cost of the development of the region by looking at smaller, realistic projects to execute.
The finale
The Telangana agitation is the only such movement in India that involves a capital city located in the region that is fighting for separation from the main State. This clearly reflects on the lack of governance and civic administration in this area as the benefits of having a State capital in the hinterland have not trickled down to other areas in that region.
Smaller States still need a good and vibrant administration to be recipes for success. Chhattisgarh is a fine example of how an effective administration could turn around a State in all aspects of development. The development that has happened in the Chhattisgarh region from Independence till 2000 has in fact been less than the development that has taken place from the time a new State was created in 2000 till now. The first Telangana Chief Minister would have done a great service to the infant State should he take a prescription from Chhattisgarh’s most famous Ayurvedic doctor.
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Dear Kishan Reddy,
Formation of Telangana is impossible. I am born and raised in Hyderabad so I consider myself a Telangana by all means. When I say this lot of my Telangana friends get angry with me. But still my friends consider me as fool or a day dreamer. For them formation of Telangana is almost as true as tomorrow’s sunrise. They feel if not now in 2014 when BJP gets into power creation of Telangana is certain. I’ve got multi folded argument in support of my assertion. Off course some still say I am an Andhra since my ancestors are from Guntur District. Let me analyze now.
1. LEGAL ISSUES INVOLVED.
Before 1956 there was no state which is now called as Andhra Pradesh. The current Andhra Pradesh was formed in view of recommendations made by Justice Fazal Ali commission which popularly known as States Reorganization Committee. The criterion for formation of Andhra Pradesh was that people talking Telugu who were residing in different parts of the country be brought under one Umbrella like other linguistic groups. So by virtue of this two independent resolutions were passed by the then states of Hyderabad and Andhra (which was separated from Madras Presidency in 1953). The resolutions passed by these assemblies are like almost unanimous. In the Hyderabad state assembly only 3 members opposed the merger. Somebody may correct me if I am wrong. Thus came into existence the state of Andhra Pradesh. So in view of these circumstances it is only assembly of State of Andhra Pradesh has got powers to divide the state into 2 or more. Definitely Parliament of India has to got no powers in this matter. The supporters of Telangana argue that in view of a bill of parliament only states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttaranchal (now Uttarakand) are formed so what’s wrong in Parliament passing such a bill for formation of Telangana. Here I want to make a point clear to all those Telangana protagonists that creation of those states is totally a different scenario. For example in Bihar at that time Lalu Prasad Yadav was not in a position of forming a government without the help of JMM party headed by Shibhu Soren. Shibu Soren put a condition that his party JMM will support Lalu only if the later agrees to creation of Jharkhand state. Even Lalu thought that if Jharkhand region is deducted from Bihar he is the king in the rest of Bihar state. It was like a Win WIN situation for both. A similar situation was there in Chhattisgarh and Uttaranchal. The situation in AP is totally different. As I stated supra the state of Andhra Pradesh came into existence due to the resolutions of two independent state assemblies. So nothing can happen without a resolution by the assembly of AP. The Telangana protagonists should understand that let what may come Congress party will never introduce such bill in the parliament because it will face a stiff opposition from its own partners. The union government is headed by UPA and Congress party is only a big group of that coalition. In the present world where ever Westminster democracy is followed only coalition governments are existing including India. In the near future I don’t see any single party is going get absolute majority including BJP and Congress. Even in 2014 also we are going to get only coalition government. It may be NDA headed by BJP or UPA one more time headed by Congress. So even if BJP headed by NDA government comes to power in 2014 still Telangana remains a dream. Already a major partner of NDA, the JD (U) which leads a coalition government in Bihar feels creation of Jharkhand is a big mistake. There are so many other partners of NDA who oppose division of states further. They fear of such more demands in their home states. Why in 2014 by virtue of a magic say NDA headed by BJP is in power at center tomorrow I challenge that still the BJP cannot introduce a bill in Parliament for creation of Telangana. All the BJP stalwarts like LK Advani, Nitin Gadkari and Venkayya Naidu know this fact. What BJP is currently doing is fishing in troubled waters so that in 2014 elections it can get some seats in Telangana region. But it will remains a big dream for them. BJP didn’t learned any lesson from 1999 elections when they went to polls in AP with an election slogan “one vote two states”. Off course people in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions rejected BJP in Toto. Even in Telangana people rejected BJP. Though I am big supporter of BJP still I condemn BJP the way it is dealing this issue. I blame TDP President Chandra Babu Naidu totally for the current situation in Andhra Pradesh. The Government of India headed by Congress party time and again was asking for a consensus among all parties of Andhra Pradesh on this issue. Though most of the sunny bunny parties were in favor of Telangana but it was more particular about of the view of the major and main opposition party Telugu Desam headed by Chandra Babu Naidu. When Chandra Babu Naidu supported the Telangana by signing the resolution the union government came up with the December 9th 2009 statement by Chidambaram. Though the timing was wrong but still the union government had do it taking in view of the delicate situation of KCR hunger strike though it is a fake one. Even in that statement by Chidambaram also the Union Government behaved with care and responsibility. Please note the words in that statement. It was like this “The steps for creation of state of Telangana will be taken by introducing a bill in the AP assembly” The Union government was under the impression that every single soul and political party in Andhra Pradesh is in favor of creation of Telangana. The Union government thought that if the state assembly passes a resolution for division state then what the problem is. Even if such separate demands come from other regions still they could go by the standard set like a resolution by the concerned state assembly. But entire situation was reversed when there was a big agitation from the people living Andhra and Rayalaseema regions. The union government realized its mistake and came up with the December23rd 2009 statement. The Bill in parliament is just an eye wash. Introduction of a bill by Congress for creation of Telangana is just impossible and even if it is coined most of its partners will vote against it. Even BJP will vote against it saying their politburo is against any bill introduced by Congress party. Just for imagination even if all the parties support this bill it can’t stand the test of law. Somebody will challenge this bill in Supreme Court. If nobody does still I will do it. I am still an Indian citizen. I strongly feel Supreme Court will definitely rule in my favor saying that without a resolution by the assembly of Andhra Pradesh the Indian Parliament can’t act on its own. While dismissing a batch of writ petitions filed earlier in this connection, the Supreme Court observed that they were immature and has got no cause of action. The Supreme Court also pointed out it will consider again when any such resolution or bill passed by Union Government in this connection. So bottom line is without a resolution by the assembly of the state of Andhra Pradesh nothing can happen. It is not out of place to mention that none of parties including TRS is working in this direction. Honestly none of the politicians who are raising their voice in favor of creation of Telangana state are serious in this direction including the so called champion of Telangana cause Mr. KCR. I don’t want to repeat under what circumstances KCR started Telangana agitation. It may not be a shock one fine morning KCR takes up a plum post and dump this so called Telangana agitation like the way his predecessor of Telangana cause Mr. Marri Chenna Reddy did.
2. SOCIAL ISSUES.
A lot of people of Telangana still think and under the impression that people from Andhra region migrated in big numbers to Telangana only after formation of AP state in 1956. It is totally a wrong conception. When Nizamsagar dam was constructed in 1923 by the then rulers of the erstwhile Hyderabad State, Mir Osman Ali Khan his dream was to cultivate thousands of acres of land. I don’t want to use the word lazy but due to ill knowledge of the Hyderabad state farmers he personally invited the farmers of Andhra region to come to Hyderabad state and cultivate those lands as well as educate the farmers of Hyderabad state about the tricks in the cultivation and irrigation of lands making use of dam waters. Thus several thousands of farmers from Andhra region came to then Hyderabad state popularly known as Nizam state. The KCR and his gang calling them as settlers who came to Telangana to rob the wealth of the Telangana. The truth is that those so called settlers converted if not millions at least thousands of acres of barren land into rich fertile lands which can produce at least 2 crops a year. The result today the lands under ayacut of Nizam Sagar and other places produce the best agricultural produce whether it is Rice, Sugarcane or Bajra. This happened because of relentless and untiring efforts of those farmers who migrated to Telangana region from Andhra. Now the intention is by hook or crook the politicians like Chenna Reddy then and KCR now to grab those rich fertile lands. The same is the case with Hyderabad city and suburbs. It is a joint effort by several thousands of people both from Andhra and Telangana region making Hyderabad this big and successful. That’s why the slogan Andhra Go Back came. In 1969 the first word came from the mouth of Chenna Reddy was Andhra Go Back. I was a kid then but still Chenna Reddy had no answer when I asked him in an open meeting where the Andhra should go back and why? Now one more time I ask KCR who day in and day out screams at the pitch of his voice that Andhra Wale Bagho. Where Andhrawale should bagho and why? The lands in possession by the people whose ancestors are from Andhra region are bought by paying a valid consideration and registered in their favor by the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Creation of a state or division of a state is purely a legislative affair subject to approval by the Judiciary. Let KCR convince the state legislators for division of state the so called setters will not have any objection because till that happens they are called citizen of Andhra Pradesh and after that citizen of Telangana or any other name the state is called. Still their rights to those lands are protected by the Constitution of India. If Government of India fails to protect their rights, then United Nations Organization (UNO) comes into picture for violation of human rights. A lot of my friends and many protagonists of Telangana that the merger of Hyderabad State with Andhra state was forced wedding. Everybody keep in their mind there was never a state or region which was called Telangana which was merged with Andhra state which was called a forceful wedding. And now Telangana wants a divorce or judicial separation. This argument was coined by lawyers belonging to Telangana. Looks like that those Telangana lawyers have not read entire matrimonial law in its true sprits. In the entire world no democratic country has a law where divorce will be granted just it is asked by one partner to the wedding. Even in the western world also divorce is granted only when both partners to the wedding decided to call it a day. If one party to the wedding says no then no court or force on this planet can separate them unless the party asking for divorce proves beyond reasonable doubt that other party was cruel, commited adultery or desertion etc., as grounds of divorce. If we apply the same yard stick here in this case one partner to the wedding clearly says no to the divorce. I don’t want to dwell into controversy here who is Husband and who is Wife. The Telangana people got a golden opportunity in 1972-73 when Andhra people themselves wanted a separation. But just because a Telangana man late P V Narasimha Rao was a Chief Minister at that time the Telangana people rejected that idea by saying that Andhra people are jealous of Telangana man at the helm of affairs. In every field it is always fittest is the survival especially in Politics. That’s the reason the same PV became a most successful Prime Minister of India in a very stiff opposite conditions. Every single Telugu is proud of PV who changed the course of the India towards development. Whatever the little development we see in India today is because of late PV Narasimha Rao. It is our bad luck he could not get a 2nd term to continue his efforts to take India to a different level. Any ways that was gone. It was always a prose for the politician who rake up Telangana card that this region was neglected, suppressed and oppressed and all possible words in dictionary. Mrs. Sonia Gandhi did one thing intelligently which Mrs. Indira Gandhi failed to do in 1970’s is that appointment of a judicial commission headed by Supreme Court Justice Sri Krishna. Thanks to Mrs. Sonia Gandhi. Justice Sri Krishna commission categorically dwelled into the issue and submitted its report. In the report Justice Sri Krishna specifically observed that though in some areas of Telangana area are still backward but overall Telangana region is far advanced than other regions of state like Rayalaseema, North Andhra and even the so-called advanced districts of Andhra region like Guntur, Krishna, East and West Godavari. By slip of the tongue even KCR admitted this fact several times. Since the claim and argument of backwardness/suppression etc. fell flat because of finding by Justice Sri Krishna committee the KCR gang took up a new slogan of self-respect by saying that people or legislators from Telangana were not given prime posts. We had 4 Chief Ministers from Telangana and even in the current cabinet several major portfolios are held by legislators from Telangana region. The most important ministry after Chief Minister is always headed by a legislator from Telangana. I am talking about Home Ministry. If we don’t get an opportunity to have person from our region at the helm of affairs doesn’t mean that our region is neglected, suppressed or insulted. If that happens really then the person to blame is the legislator/s from that constituency or region who did not raise their voice for their share of cake. Just for this reason we have no right to claim a separate state or country. Again I reiterate my stand that in any field fittest is the survival. The classic example is our current Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh who though born in Pakistan and raised in Punjab state is not even a member of Lok Sabha from any state. He is only a nominated member of Rajya Sabha from Assam quota. But still he is our Prime Minister for a second term. We the people of Andhra Pradesh including Telangana voted for him.
3. FISCAL ISSUES:
Before partitioning a joint family, a state or a country by metes and bounds disposal of all assets both moveable and immoveable. Assess the value of all those assets and liabilities if any should be taken into account and then divide them as per the percentage as decided. In the present case of division of Andhra Pradesh state first it has to be decided as to how many parts should it be divided and what percentage etc., This is because apart from Telangana there are several other demands for separate statehoods like North Andhra, Rayalaseema and off course there is also a demand for South Telangana from the most backward districts like Medak and Mahabubnagar. When an agreement is arrived at regarding division of state into 2 or more parts now comes to whom should the capital city of Hyderabad belongs. Just because Hyderabad geographically in that region cannot go automatically to Telangana. While dividing a joint family assets among brothers there are some places like Living Room/Family Room etc., have some added amenities and luxuries like A/C, Expensive Carpet, Furniture etc., and on these items the joint family funds are utilized. So if that area goes to one brother due to geographical location then the value of such an area is calculated and proportionately the brother who gets it compensates the other brothers. The same way Telangana region should compensate the other regions proportionately. As per a rough estimate the value of Hyderabad city is like 2 Lakh crores. So now the billion dollar question is that the Telangana region can pay such whopping amount to the other regions that are separating. Now Telangana may argue why they should pay and let them develop their own capital or whatever in their piece of land. This is what TRS and other protagonists of T’ state are arguing. This does not hold any water when put to legal scrutiny because it is Telangana region people who are asking for division of state and they are keeping Hyderabad the cake so they got to pay accordingly. If they can’t then forget about division and stay united. Without any argument Telangana region can’t pay any amount to other regions. Simply talking shit, threatening the people of Andhra region or destroying of statues on the tank bund can never get the state.
So my dear Telangana brothers and sisters come on grew up and fight the world. Thank God India is a democratic country so grab the opportunity and grow. I pity those people who live in USA and enjoying plum positions still support this cause. They should understand they are in those positions just because they are able and fought the world to get it. So teach their brothers and sisters back home to fight the world in the right and correct way by achieving higher education and knowledge.
SARVE JANA SUKHINO BHAVANTHU. JAI HIND.