SM Fasiullah for BeyondHeadlines
The Indian government has today endorsed the decision to carve Telangana out of Andhra Pradesh as the 29th state of the country following UPA and Congress Working Committee (CWC) gave nod for the formation of a separate state of Telangana.
The Telangana bill needs to be passed in Andhra Pradesh Assembly, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, in addition to receiving a final clearance from the President of India.
Announcing the decision today after the CWC meeting, Congress spokesperson Ajay Maken stated that Hyderabad would be the joint capital for Telangana and the remaining Andhra Pradesh for 10 years.
Mr. Maken also noted that Congress decision to allow Telangana was difficult and the resolution asked the Centre to assist Andhra government to maintain harmony in both the regions.
Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh said at press conference that the UPA has reached decision on Telangana after much debate and the decision was “difficult”.
Mr. Singh stated while taking the decision on Telangana, the UPA has kept in mind security, water issues, and the problems that Seemandhra people might face.
When asked about similar demands for separate states by other regional players such as Gorkhaland, Mr. Singh rebuffed saying that Telangana cannot be compared to other demands for separate states. Telangana has “a different history”.
Reacting to the announcement, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MLA KT Ramarao told a news channel that “The mood is hopeful and optimistic, but at the same time lot of observations coming in because we have been through this before.”
“We are very cautious at this juncture, because we want the bill to be passed in the parliament and until that happens the people of Telangana are not in a mood to celebrate,” Ramarao added.
TRS is the latest front campaigner for a separate Telangana state. TRS was formed in 2001, led by K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), who re-ignited the issue. He even went on fast-onto-death seeking creation of separate state.
In his reaction over the announcement for separate Telangana state, KCR said it is a victory for the people and the bill must be passed by Parliament.
The Telangana region, which has backward districts and barren lands with less natural resources, had been at the mercy of incumbent governments at the Centre.
Since the merger of Telangana for the formation of Andhra Pradesh, the governments promised various development initiatives and safeguards including Gentlemen’s Agreement, Prime Minister’s Eight Point Program and Six-Point Formula.
Unfortunately, all these promises were not fulfilled in their true spirits or failed to yield expected results. Therefore the struggle continued. Now the people of Telangana region are rejoicing at the announcement.
However, even if formed by early next year, as pointed out by Digvijaya Singh, the new state of Telangana would need robust development plan, strong commitment and determination from its people to make it a developed state; for which the movement started.
