Kodandaram cautions against Andhra corporate forces

HYDERABAD: Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) chairman M Kodandaram has cautioned the Telangana society against 'corporate forces' of Andhra and emphasised the need for Telangana people to continue their united struggle till Telangana develops and prospers.

Addressing the gathering after a book, 'Telangana Jaitra Yatra' penned by professor Ghanta Chakrapani was released by Ch Hanumanth Rao, former member of the Planning Commission, at Saraswata Parishad Hall here on Sunday, the TJAC chairman said that Telangana was achieved by the united struggle of Telangana people.

'It was a true democratic struggle by the people for genuine and legitimate reasons and not just for the identity of the region. Those two should not be seen as different issues, as they are interlinked.

To achieve Telangana, people had waged a relentless struggle, every one contributing in their own way overcoming several obstacles in the process.

The entire struggle was documented in an unbiased manner from Telangana perspective by Ghanta Chakrapani in his book in a most thought-provoking manner,' he said.

Kodandaram, who explained what went and what they had experienced during the Sakala Janula Samme, felt that the conspirators against Telangana had not given up though Telangana state was coming into being.

'We should all be alert. The Telugu Desam, which was elected to power in Seemandhra, aspires once again to rule Telangana. Its president Chandrababu Naidu plans to regain power in Telangana by 2019. We should be cautious. Andhra corporate forces hand in hand with Delhi corporate force will work against Telangana,' he said.

Disputing Chandrababu Naidu's claim of developing Telangana, he said development did not mean not just the figures and projections. It would be nothing but distortion of facts and right perspective. 'Development means improvement in the living standards of the common man.

If one looks at the development that has taken place in Telangana till now, government schools are far below private schools, so is the case with health and other sectors. Real development can only happen when common man ceases to suffer and does not have to struggle for the basic needs.

Till that is achieved in Telangana, I have to continue in TJAC and Chakrapani had to continue his writing to guide us in right direction,'' he said.

Earlier, after releasing the book, Centre for Economic and Social Studies chairman and former member of the Planning Commission Ch Hanumanth Rao described 'Telangana Jaitra Yatra' as a cohesive collection of the major events in Telangana movement in the last two and a half years.

He was all praise for the author for documenting the struggle that went into achieving Telangana state.

Rama Melkote, who presided over the function, laid emphasis on honesty and values in politics and the role of intelligentsia as the watchdog of society for its greater good. Academician VS Prasad, veteran journalists K Srinivas and Allam Narayana also spoke.