Views on Separate State Of Telengana
Separate State Of Telengana With A Separate Legislature, Executive And Judiciary In Accordance With The Constitution Of India
Sir, I rise to speak on the current scenario in Andhra Pradesh. (Interruptions) Sir, the entire world knows that Andhra Pradesh was growing until 2004 at the highest speed and it took its position on the world map, especially during the regime of Telugu Desam Government, as a progressive State of India. (Interruptions) Similarly, every one of us knows the present sad state of Andhra Pradesh. Leaving apart social development, industrial growth has come to a grinding halt. The I.T. and commodity exports have come to the lowest level. There is, absolutely, no governance in Andhra Pradesh
Post-independence, while forming the Republic of India, several deliberations/agitations took place, which include appointment of Dhar Committee, appointment of SRC for forming linguistic States. Finally, I am told, the then democratically elected, our first hon. Prime Minister, Pandit Nehruji, has taken a decision by consulting Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Shri Pattabhi Sitaramayya. Again, this issue surfaced during 1969-72, the then elected Prime Minister, Shrimati Indira Gandhi, who told in her reply to a Bill on 21.12.1972, in Lok Sabha, on issues involving separation of States. I would like to quote a few lines from that enlightening speech: “Matters which involved regional feelings quite often do arouse the emotions of the people in this country, as in many other countries, and we certainly cannot ignore the emotions of the people. But I should like to stress that no solution can be found while the atmosphere remains charged with emotions. Any solution, any answer has to be found in a very cool, calm and rational manner.” My second point is, there are some things which are part of our national life. It is true that the question of linguistic States was very much a part of the national movement. There was no getting away from it. The units of every party, which was in existence at a time, were formed on the basis of language in spite of the British Provinces having different areas. There is an overall rationality in the formation of our various States and we should be very careful not to break this foundation of rationality in momentary passions. I am sure that no Telugu speaking person whether he lives in the coastal region or in Rayalaseema or in Telangana will ever do anything even in anger or in desperation, which is not in the larger interest of their entire State, and also in the interest of the country as a whole. At the same time, under Article 371 D, a Presidential order was issued. In order to save the time of the House, I do not want to repeat the points. Sir, wisdom lies in bringing down the emotions and not in arousing emotions for political considerations. I am appealing, through you, to all, especially to the Congress, to be wise enough to go through, if, at all, they suffer from any confusion. Sir, recently, the hon. Home Minister, Shri Chidambaram, while replying on this issue, stated that if all the political parties can come to unanimity, the Centre is ready for having a decision on an issue. I strongly object to this as political unanimity cannot be the guiding principle for a decision on an issue relating to the division of a State. In a federal structure, it is the responsibility of the Centre to formulate policies and draw priorities on various issues in the interest of the entire country. Sir, I am getting an impression from the approach of this Government that if political unanimity is possible, will we be ever ready to surrender the independence of this country? (Interruptions) That is the fact. You cannot stop.
It is in the knowledge of everyone that this Government appointed Justice Srikrishna Commission on this issue and the Commission submitted its Report after taking views of all the stakeholders. If that being the fact, what else this Government wants to know from the parties? What is the stand of the Government on the Report given by the Commission? If the Government is under any confusion on the issue of Telangana, it has the benefit of the Report of a Commission at its disposal and the Government is duty bound to tell this nation, and the people of Andhra Pradesh in particular, as to why it is not in a position to take any decision on this issue.
Sir, after submission of Report by Justice Srikrishna Commission, some new parties came into existence in Andhra Pradesh. I would like to know from the Government whether it intends to reopen the entire exercise in the name of political unanimity. Can there be an end for this as another party may come into existence before such an exercise is completed? Therefore, this Government should not harp on lame excuses of lack of political unanimity and must come out immediately with a solution, thus ending the prevailing uncertainty.
Sir, I would like to appreciate the efforts made by my colleague, Shri Javadekar, to find a solution for this boiling issue through his Private Member's Resolution in this House. While I do not have any doubt about his sincerity on the subject, I wonder as to why NDA failed to act on this issue when they were in power Undoubtedly, Shri Javadekar and BJP owe an answer to this nation and the State of Andhra Pradesh on this.
Sir in 2004 elections, Congress started its campaign with a promise of separate Telangana. But, at the end of 2009 election campaign, their own Chief Minister sought a clarification from people of coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema as to whether they would like to enter Telangana with a visa by not voting in favour of Congress. This clearly spelt out that the Congress has all along been dealing with this issue keeping in mind power politics and never shown sincerity for any honest resolution of the issue.
Sir, in fact, during 1984 August political disturbances in Andhra Pradesh, our great party founder, Shri N.T. Rama Rao, preferred to dissolve the State Assembly and go in for reelection in order to implement the policies which he believed are in the interest of the people of Andhra Pradesh. He never compromised on anything just for the sake of sitting in power.
Sir, similarly, I would like to mention that even during 1991, when our country's economic situation was extremely bad, our great leader, Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao Garu, had brought out economic reforms by managing minority Government, but he never compromised on his policies for the sake of power. But, irrespective any political parties, they have been using the issue of Telangana as a political weapon for getting only political benefits.
Sir, lack of wisdom is no sin, but disrespecting the wisdom shown by our great elders is, indeed, a sin. After Independence, our elders in their own wisdom, thought that reorganisation of the States on linguistic lines can be a better solution for so many socio-political issues faced by the country. Therefore, I request the Government to find a solution to this issue taking into account all these historical facts.
Finally, what is it that our State, or the people of Telangana, are requesting for? Even article 370D mentions so many privileges; but none of the political parties, none of Governments have ever bothered to follow the Presidential amendment to the Constitution also. In fact, based on the population, they have requested for about 40 per cent reservation , integration of rivers, preservation of culture, and for declaring certain industrial corridors. Even if the Government of India could allot some industrial corridors to the Telangana region, most probably, most of the people may get jobs and this unrest may be contained.
Sir, enough damage has already been done due to indecisiveness of the Government on this sensitive issue. Therefore, I appeal to the Government to immediately announce a decision on this issue, keeping the larger interest of the country in view, rather than acting for petty political interests. The UPA Government is entirely responsible for the present state of affairs in Andhra Pradesh. The Government must immediately take a decision either about united Andhra or, otherwise, in the interest of a separate State of Telangana, because, already, enough time has been lost; many students have committed suicide; and there is a huge political unrest there; we must put a full-stop to all this. I am not here to blame any political party. But Parties after Parties have been using this as a weapon in order to get some political mileage. We have to put a full-stop to this.
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