Is Statehood Genuine and Democratic? S N Sangita1

The UPA government’s decision to form a separate Telengana State (10 districts with as capital) by the unanimous resolution of CWC and its endorsement by the UPA coalition partners on 30 July has brought turmoil in ‘Seemandhra Region’ (remaining 13 districts of ). This situation has further worsened with the approval of the Cabinet for the separation on 3rd October 2013 and also the constitution of Group of Ministers to work out modalities for separation without even referring to the State Legislative Assembly. The people are on the streets with violent protests against the separation for the last 79 days and as a consequence the life has come to a standstill. The essential services like public transport, educational institutions, and hospitals have been disrupted with the joining of seven lakh government employees in strike, although electricity and RTC employees have reported for the duty recently.

All political parties particularly the Congress Party have to be blamed for this situation. The Congress Party, ruling both at the state and centre, has failed to exhibit the much needed statesmanship and political maturity in handling this sensitive issue having major repercussions. On the other hand, the main opposition parties are trying to take political mileage, although some of them agreed for the separation. The demand for separate Telengana is a genuine one and it has been in vogue for the last several decades. The problems and grievances of Seemandhra, arised out of separate Telengana, are also equally important and genuine. The paper analyses issues relating to demand for separate statehood for Telengana and the problems faced by Seemandhra in the post partition with a view to find out an amicable solution for both the regions.

Why Separate Telengana? The demand for a separate Telengana is a genuine and it is there since several decades. A large number of people particularly the students have become martyrs for the cause of

1 Professor and Head, Centre for Political Institutions, Governance and Development, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Nagarabhavi, Bangalore 560072. [email protected] Mob:9731039145 1

Telengana. The people belonging to Telangana feel that they have been losing their dignity in the united Andhra Pradesh in spite of development happening in this region, according to report(2010) appointed by the government of India. The dominance of Seemandhra people is felt in all walks of life (politics, administration, development and culture). Most of the time, the State was ruled by the leaders, particularly, the Chief Ministers belonging to Seemandhra, and even denied the rightful claim of deputy CM for Telengana on several occasions. For instance, according to Srikrishna committee, CMs from Telengana have held the position just for 10.5 years as against 42 years by Seemandhra region. The rightful claim of Telangana people in government jobs and educational opportunities had been denied in the past.

Major industries including cultural industry (film producers and artists, print and electronic media), trade and commerce are controlled by the leaders hailing from Seemandhra. A large track of prime land and commercial complexes, in and around Hyderabad, are owned by the land resources and businessman belongs to Seemandhra. Telengana culture has not received the due recognition and place in all domains. For instance, Telengana festivals, songs, language, heroes, intellectuals, honors and events (celebration of Telengana liberation) have not received appropriate recognition in united Andhra Pradesh. Many agreements, promises and government orders have been violated by the leaders belonging to Seemandhra.

Why is Seemandhra against Separation? The Seemandhra people have been strongly opposing separation mainly on emotional, economic and political grounds. Firstly, people have an emotional attachment and pride of having a separate state for all Telugu speaking people. With the result, Andhra Pradesh was formed in 1956 by merging erstwhile State of Hyderabad and newly formed from Madras. Thus the united Andhra Pradesh has owing to the culmination of sentiments and struggles of individuals and public bodies both in the regions for a long period of time. A significant percent of Seemandhra people continue to have the same nostalgia and feeling. However, such feeling is not remained any more with the majority of Telugus in Telangana excluding Hyderabad. The feeling of injustice is greater among

2 the educated classes. In fact, Telengana intellectuals, artists, journalists, government employees, activists, professionals, middle class, students, youth and so on are in the fore front of the Telengana movement. The frequent fight between Telengana and Seemandhra lawyers in High Court is a reflective of this trend. The second major reason for Seemandhra opposition is Hyderabad and the third being the sharing of river waters and electricity. Many farmers believe that they would not get water, if the state is separated. The water has to come from Godavari and Krishna basins which are located in Telengana region. Many feel that important irrigation projects like Polavaram across Godavari for irrigating lakhs of hectares in Seemandhra will not be completed, since Telengana people have been objecting due to submerging 100 to 120 villages. Same is the case with electricity and issues relating to government employees privileges and security in promotions

Why claims over Hyderabad? The most important reason of Seemandhra against separation is Hyderabad. Hyderabad is the main contention for both Seemandhra and Telangana. Firstly, Seemandhra people have developed affinity with Hyderabad after they moved from erstwhile capitals of Madras (composite state) in 1953 and (Andhra state) in 1956. The middle class families who came in for jobs, children’s education, business, and contractors settled in Hyderabad permanently. Most of them sold their properties in their native places and constructed houses and other assets in Hyderabad. Poor people who came in search of jobs particularly from backward districts have been living in Hyderabad for long time as domestic helpers (servants, drivers, washer men, small business, and self employment wage laborers). Same is the case with Seemandhra capitalists whose private investment in and around Hyderabad accounts for 20 per cent. Important industries, business establishments, film studios, hospitals, educational institutions including International Airport are owned by Seemandhra people. Besides, a large per cent of families in Seemandhra is connected with Hyderabad one way or the other. This is evident, if one looks at the number of busses, trains and other vehicles coming from Seemandhra every day. Their number is many times higher than any other place connecting Hyderabad and around eight lakh people travel to Seemandhra during Sankranti festival. They constitute

3 a significant percent in Hyderabad and Rangareddy districts after Muslims (who constitute 35-40 per cent), according to Srikrishna committee. Most of them feel unsecured in newly created Telengana due to sarcastic remarks of TRS president K Chandra Sekhara Rao. This is one reason why TRS fails to get a single MLA out of 33 in Greater Hyderabad region. Even TRS did not contest in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections held on 23 November 2009.

Secondly, a large per cent of youth from Seemandhra look to Hyderabad for education and employment opportunities. Many youth think that Hyderabad is a ‘Mecca’ for getting jobs, since many central and state government organisations and industries are located in Hyderabad. It is hub for Pharmaceuticals, IT and biotechnology industries. For instance, 80 per cent of IT employment comes from this place. The employment opportunities will be further increased with proposed investment of Rs. 2 lakh crore for a hardware park for developing electronic industry on the outskirts of Hyderabad. Besides, many central public undertakings are located here. Similarly, majority of youth look to Hyderabad for educational opportunities. Nearly 30-40 central educational, research and other institutions of higher learning apart from private institutions of high quality are located here. There is a fear among the youth that they are not eligible for getting admissions in educational institutions and securing jobs particularly in private industry after the separation. Similar fear of losing privileges (jobs, seniority, promotions, and pensions) has compelled seven lakh government employees to go in for protest and strikes.

Thirdly, a significant per cent of Seemandhra people depend upon Hyderabad for major medical problems and ailments. More than 50 per cent of middle and upper middle class prefer to get treated for major diseases in Hyderabad. Even poor are getting operated in corporate and government hospitals here under Arogyasri which will be reimbursed by the government. All super specialty hospitalities including government ones with world class facilities are located in Hyderabad. The popularity of Hyderabd along with Bangalore for health tourism (many foreigners are getting treatment in India at a lower cost) reflect this trend. Lastly, Seemandhra people are not willing to lose Hyderabad,

4 since it generates more than 50 per cent of state revenue. Even there is a fear of losing market for their products in Hyderabad, which is not rue

The above factors are mainly responsible for Seemandhra demand for making Hyderabad as a union territory on the lines of or Delhi or separate state on the lines of Pondicherry in case of separation. These proposals would minimise the opposition of Seemandhra for separation. However, this is not acceptable to Telengana people and other stakeholders particularly TRS and MLAs representing Hyderabad. Firstly, Telengana people feel that Telengana without Hyderabad is a liability for them. Many Telengana youth particularly from SC/ST/OBC classes are of the view that they would get more educational, employment and economic opportunities once the separate state is formed. Secondly TRS is not willing to concede any of the above proposals and it may make it as a political issue in the post-partition which disturbs peace in Hyderabad. Thirdly, MLAs representing Hyderabad particularly MIM is not in favour of union territory. Finally, geographically and historically, it belongs to Telengana, although Seemandhra claims it as a contribution since Kutub Sahis.

What is the way out? This is the right time to get separated like brothers in a joint family. Denial of Telengana at this stage makes Telengana people more hostile towards Seemandhra. The demand for separation may come again and again which may hurt the development of both the regions. Separation is painful for Telugu speaking people like me (author) but it is inevitable. A significant per cent of Telengana people (excluding Hyderabad) is demanding for separate state, although it is only 50 per cent according to ‘Lokniti-CSDS’ study. The Seemandhra people should respect the democratic demands and aspirations of Telangana people. At the same time, the Telengana people should create conditions to protect the rightful claims of Seemandhra people.

The central government should enact a law to protect the life and property of Seemandhras and their access to educational and job opportunities in Hyderabad. Also, it should give better package for building new capital and developing new townships with

5 world class infrastructure. The central government should establish excellent educational institutions, research organisations/laboratories super specialty hospitals, defense establishments/ combat wings and PSUs (like HAL) on par with the southern capitals (particularly Bangalore, Hyderabad and Madras). The institutional mechanisms like Krishna-Godavari River Water Development Board have to be established to share river waters fairly among the two states. Polavaram has been already declared as a national irrigation project for which central funds are available. Along with, the Bhadrachalam division (presently in Khammam district) which was a part of Andhra state prior to 1959 has to be restored back to facilitate the speedy construction of Polavaram project by protecting the rights of affected people. At the same time, the problems of backward districts in Telengana are to be addressed. National status has to be accorded to `Prannahita Chevella’ irrigation project in Telengana region.

It is ideal to locate state capital of Seemandhra on central point (accessible to all districts) with good road, rail and air connectivity. Both central and state governments should give incentives to establish infrastructure (air and sea ports, roads, rail lines, metros, power, SEZs, tourist infrastructure) as well as to start industries, educational institutions, hospitals, hotels, film studios and so on. People living in Hyderabad should be given preference in allotting lands for industries, institutions and houses at a concessional rate. IT parks, educational institutions, hospitals are to be located in new townships in backward districts. Port towns are to be developed with good road and rail connectivity. All political parties particularly the ruling party has the responsibility of ensuring a smooth separation by protecting the interests of the two regions.

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