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Government succumbed to blackmail, say Telugu NRIs
Toronto News.Net
Friday 11th December, 2009 (IANS)
Cutting across regional lines, Telugus in Canada have blasted the Indian government for succumbing to 'blackmail' to create Telangana out of Andhra Pradesh. Canada is home to more than 30,000 Telugus who come from all three parts of Andhra Pradesh - Rayalaseema, Telangana and Andhra.
Reacting angrily to the proposed division of their state, they said the Indian government has opened a Pandora's Box which will spell danger for the unity of the country.
The Congress government at the centre and in Andhra Pradesh has ignored the wishes of millions of Andhra people and 'succumbed to the blackmail of just one person (K. Chandrashekhar Rao or KCR),'' they told IANS.
Toronto-bases techie Vikram Kondathasula, who comes from the coastal Andhra region of the state, asked, 'Can the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) tell me why it wants a separate state? Can they spell out even one benefit of the new state?''
Slamming TRS chief K. Chandrashekhar Rao, he said, 'How can one person hold an entire country to ransom? Who is he to decide the future of the state? He should have first put the issue before people and sought votes on it. Only if people had voted for him could he have proposed a new state?''
The angry Andhra software engineer said the Manmohan Singh government has opened a Pandora's Box which will lead to divisions of the country. 'Now everyone will want his own separate state. Mayawati has already raised the demand for two other states out of UP. Gorkhas will not stop till they get Gorkhaland. Where will it all stop?''
Toronto Stock Exchange business analyst Dheeraj Arcot, who comes from the Telangana region of state, said, 'It is basically one guy (KSR) who has decided this show. Why wasn't the issue put to referendum so that people could decide?
'Not even 20 percent people in Telangana support division of the state.
But here is a guy who has blackmailed people by undertaking fast unto death. How further can you divide and segregate the country? Let a fasting politician die. Who cares?''
Arcot said, 'KCR and the Congress are playing a comedy with the people of Andhra Pradesh. There was an unspoken understanding between the two to enact this drama.
Hitting out at the agitation leader, he asked, 'Being a diabetic, how did KCR last so many days on fast? It is impossible. And does this guy understand what the new state will be left with? Perhaps only Charminar and
biryani.'
Telugu community leader Arun Kumar Layam, who comes from the Rayalseema region of the state, too blasted KCR for dividing Telugus for his political ends.
'Who are these student agitators behind him? Most of them are not students. They are all paid goondas. It is a sad decision for all the Telugu-speaking people.''
Layam said, 'It is ridiculous that KCR wants a new state in the name of development when people are not complaining. The Centre should not have acted in haste and the issue should have been put before people.''
Many Andhra NRIs said the division of their home state will fracture the composite Telugu identity.
(Gurmukh Singh can be contacted at gurmukh.s@ians.in)  Email this story to a friend
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Anonymous
12-11-09, 11:54 PM |
Government succumbed to blackmail, say Telugu NRIs
STATES REORGANISATION COMMISSION REPORT
States Reorganisation Commission TitleThe States Reorganization Commission was constituted by the Central Government of India under the States Reorganization Act and consisted of Hon. Fazal Ali, K.M. Panikker, & H.N. Kunzru. The Report submitted by the Committee in 1955 known as SRC Report went among other things into the problems of Telangana and Andhra regions, and the arguments for and against the merger of two regions.
[edit] Case for Vishalandhra
369. The next question which we have to consider is the future of the Telugu speaking areas of the existing State of Hyderabad, with particular reference to the demand for creation of Vishalandhra.
370. It is unnecessary for us to trace the history of the Andhra agitation in any great detail, because the Andhra State is now in existence, having been established on 1st October, 1953. In point of fact, however the arrangements which were made in 1953 have not been regarded by the Andhras in the new State, especially in the Circars, as final and the case for the creation of Vishalandhra has remained substantially un-examined.
States Reorganisation Commission Para 366 to 369371. The advantages of a larger Andhra State including Telangana are that it will bring into existence a State of about 32 millions with a considerable hinterland, with large water and power resources, adequate mineral wealth and valuable raw materials. This will also solve the difficult and vexing problem of finding a permanent capital for Andhra, the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad are very well suited to be the capital of Vishalandhra.
372 Another advantage of the formation of Vishalandhra will be that the development of the Krishna and Godavari rivers will thereby be brought under unified control. The Krishna and the Godavari projects rank amongst the most ambitious in India. They have been formulated after prolonged period of inactivity, during which, for various technical and administrative, reasons only anicuts in the delta area have been built. Complete unification of either the Krishna or the Godavari valley is not, of course, possible. But if one independent political jurisdiction, namely, that of Telangana, can be eliminated, the formulation and implementation of plans in the eastern areas in these two great river basins will be greatly expedited. Since Telangana, as part of Vishalandhra, will benefit both directly and indirectly from this development, there is a great deal to be said for its amalgamation with the Andhra State.
States Reorganisation Commission Para 369 to 374373. The economic affiliation of Telangana with the existing Andhra State are also not unimportant. Telangana has in years of scarcity a sizable deficit in food supplies. The existing Andhra State, however, has normally a surplus which Telangana may be able to use. The existing State of Andhra has likewise no coal, but will be able to get its supplies from Singareni. Telangana will also be able to save a great deal of expenditure on general administration in case if it is not established as a separate unit.
374. The creation of Vishalandhra is an ideal to which numerous individuals and public bodies, both in Andhra and Telangana, have been passionately attached over a long period of times, and unless there are strong reasons to the contrary, this sentiment is entitled to consideration.
===The Case for Telangana===
375. The case of Vishalandhra thus rests on arguments which are impressive. The considerations which have been argued in favour of a separate Telangana State are, however, not such as may be lightly brushed aside.
376. The existing Andhra State has faced a financial problem of some magnitude ever since it was crated and in comparison with Telangana the existing Andhra State has a low per capita revenue. Telangana, on ther other hand, is much less likely to be faced with financial embarrassment. The much higher incidence of land revenue in Telangana and an excise revenue of the order of Rs.5 crores per annum principally explain this difference. Whatever the explanation may be, some Telangana leaders seem to fear that the result of unification will be to exchange some settled sources of revenue, out of which development schemes may be financed, for financial uncertainty similar to that which Andhra is now faced. Telangana claims to be progressive and from an administrative point of view, unification it is contended is not likely to confer any benefits on this area.
States Reorganisation Commission Para 374 to 378377. When plans for future development are taken into account, Telangana fears that the claims of this area may not receive adequate consideration in Vishalandhra. The Nandikonda and Kushtapuram (Godavari) projects are, for example among the most important which Telangana or the country as a whole has undertaken. Irrigation in the coastal as of these two great rivers is however, also being planned, Telangana. Therefore, does not wish to lose its present independent rights in relation to the utilization of the waters of Krishna and Godavari.
378. One of the principal causes of opposition of Vishalandhra also seems to be the apprehension felt by the educationally backward people of Telangana that they may be swamped and exploited by the more advanced people of the coastal areas. In the Telangana districts outside the city of Hyderabad, education is woefully backward. The result is that a lower qualification than in Andhra is accepted for public services The real fear of the people of Telangana is that if they enjoy Andhra they will be unequally placed in relation to the people of Andhra and in this partnership the major partner will derive all the advantages immediately, while Telangana, itself may be converted into a colony by the enterprising coastal Andhra.
379. ' The Telangana' it has .further been argued, can be stable and viable, unit considered by itself. The revenue receipts of this area on current account have been estimated at about Rs. 17 crores, and although the financing of the Krishna and Godavari projects will impose a recurring burden on the new State by way of interest charges, the probable deficit, if any is unlikely to be large. In favorable conditions, the revenue budget may even be balanced or indicate a marginal surplus. This fairly optimistic forecast can be explained or justified by a variety of reasons.
States Reorganisation Commission Para 379 to 383380. One important reason is, of course, that the existing Hyderabad State and Telangana as part of Hyderabad have benefited considerably from the implementation from April 1952, of the Finance Commissions' recommendations. The increase in central payments from out of the divisible pools of income-tax and Central excise which has been possible under the present arrangements and the reduction in police expenditure for which credit can be taken., as the situation in Telangana improves, more or less offset the loss on account of the abolition of internal customs duties, and if the scope which exists of raising the yield of certain State heads of revenue is fully explored, the financial position of Telangana need not cause anxiety.
[edit] The State of Hyderabad
381. The advantages of the formation of Vishalandhra are obvious. The desirability of bringing the Krishna and Godavari river basins under unified control, the trade affiliations between Telangana and Andhra and the suitability of Hyderabad as the capital for the entire region are in brief the arguments in favor of the bigger unit.
382. It seems to us, therefore, that there is much to be said for the formation of the larger State and the nothing should be done to impede the realisation of this goal. At the same time, we have to take note of the important fact that, while opinion in Andhra is overwhelmingly in favour of the larger unit, public opinion in Telangana has still to crystallize itself. Important leaders of public opinion in Andhra themselves seem to appreciate that the unification of Telangana with Andhra, though desirable, should be based on a voluntary and willing association of the people and that it is primarily for the people of Telangana to take a decision about their future.
383. We understand that the leaders of the existing Andhra State may be prepared to provide adequate safeguards to protect the interest of Telangana in the event of its integration in Vishalandhra. These safeguards may take the form of a guarantee (presumably on the lines of Sri Baug Pact between Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra) of opportunities for employment for Telangana in the public services of the new State at least to the extent of one-third, that is to say, roughly in the proportion, and an assurance that particular attention will be paid to the development plans of this area.
States Reorganisation Commission Para 383 to 387384. We have carefully gone into the details of the arrangements which may be made on these lines. It seems to us, however, that neither guarantees on the lines of the Sri Baug Pact nor constitutional devices, such as
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Anonymous
12-11-09, 11:58 PM |
Gentlemen's agreement of Andhra Pradesh (1956)
Agreement text
1. There will be one legislature for the whole of Andhra Pradesh which will be the sole law making body for the entire state and there be one Governor for the State aided and advised by the Council of Ministers responsible to the State Assembly for the entire field of Administration.
2. For the more convenient transaction of the business of Government with regard to some specified matters the Telangana area will be treated as one region.
3. For the Telangana region there will be a Regional Standing Committee of the state assembly consisting of the members of the State Assembly belonging to that region including the Ministers from that region but not including the Chief Minister.
4. Legislation relating to specified matters will be referred to the Regional committee. In respect of specified matters proposals may also be made by the Regional Committee to the State Government for legislation or with regard to the question of general policy not involving any financial commitments other than expenditure of a routine and incidental character.
5. The advice tendered by the Regional Committee will normally be accepted by the Government and the State Legislature. In case of difference of opinion, reference will be made to the Governor whose decision will be binding.
6. The Regional Committee will deal with following matters:
— Development and economic planning within the framework of the general development plans formulated by the State Legislature.
— Local Self Government, that is to say, the Constitutional powers of Municipal Corporations, Improvement Trusts, District Boards and district authorities for the purpose of Local Self Government or Village Administration.
— Public health and sanitation, local hospitals and dispensaries.
— Primary and secondary education.
— Regulation of admission to the educational institutions in the telangana region.
— Prohibition—Sale of agricultural lands.
— Cottage and small scale Industries, and Agriculture, Cooperative Societies, Markets and Fairs. Unless revised by agreement earlier this arrangement will be reviewed after ten years.
7. Domicile Rules : A temporary provision be made to ensure that for a period of five years, Telangana is regarded as a unit as far as recruitment to subordinate services in the is concerned; posts borne on the cadre of these services may be reserved for being filled up by persons who satisfy the domicile conditions as prescribed under the existing Hyderabad Mulki Rules. ( 12 years of Stay in Telangana area)
8. Distribution of expenditure between Telangana and Andhra Regions — - Allocation of expenditure with the resources of the state is a matter which falls within the purview of the State Government and the State Legislature.. Since , however, it has been agreed to the representatives of Andhra and Telangana that the expenditure of the new state on central and general administration should be borne proportionately by the two regions and the balance of income should be reserved for expenditure on the development of Telangana area, it is open to the state government to act in accordance with the terms of agreement in making budgetary allocations. The Government of India propose to invite the attention of the Chief Minister of Andhra to this particular understanding and to express the hope that it will be implemented.
9. The existing educational facilities including Technical Education in Telangana should be secured to the students of Telangana and further improved — -
10. The cabinet will consist of members in proportion of 60:40 percent for Andhra and Telangana respectively, out of 40 % of Telangana ministers, one will be a Muslim from Telangana. If the Chief Minister is from one region the other region should be given Dy Chief Ministership.
[edit] Signatories
Andhra region Telangana Region
B. Gopal Reddy
Chief Minister, Andhra State B. Rama Krishna Rao
Chief Minister, Hyderabad state
N. Sanjeeva Reddy K.V. Ranga Reddy
G.Lachanna M. Channa Reddy
Alluri Satyanarayana Raju J.V. Narsing Rao
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