`Common capital' creates more confusion

Hyderabad: The prevailing confusion over the issue of Hyderabad being a 'common capital' for both Telangana and Andhra states is expected to come to an end only when the Union Home Ministry submits its 'Note on Telangana' to the Cabinet which is slated to meet on August 8.

The Congress Working Committee which resolved on July 30 that Hyderabad will be common capital for the two states did not elaborate what would be the arrangements in such a set up.

The AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh, who read out the CWC resolution only said that 'legal and administrative measures (will be put in place) to ensure that both state governments can function efficiently from the common capital during the said period of ten years'.

Since the Constitution does not provide for a city being a common capital for different states, and there have been no such precedents except for a very short period of a few months in case of Assam and Meghalaya (city of Shillong), even the pundits appear to be clueless as to what could be the intention of Centre behind this proposal. Thus there have been all sorts of interpretations and apprehensions over the question during the last forty eight hours.

Had Hyderabad been declared as a Union Territory as sought by the Seemandhra quarters there will have been no scope for any confusion since what it means as per the Constitution is clear, even though Telanaganaites would have rejected it outright.

But both the Congress and Government have clearly suggested that they do not have any such ideas in mind. In any case that would require Constitutional amendment to which the BJP has already said no.

On the other hand, the TRS and TJAC have been hinting that they would not mind if Hyderabad is made a 'common capital' for Andhra state for some time. What they meant was a temporary arrangement with no administrative powers to AP government over the city.

Now in the CWC resolution what is incomprehensible for them is what does a `common capital' mean and what is the intention of the ruling party when it says 'legal and administrative measures to ensure that both state governments can function efficiently from the common capital....'.

Reading `common capital' with 'legal and administrative measures' would mean according administrative powers to Government of AP? Is the term only a guise to make it a UT, without actually calling it so?

Earlier, Shillong was made as one such common capital for Assam and Meghalaya with certain arrangements which virtually made the city a UT in some other name. But that fell through miserably within a short time as people of Meghalaya violently rejected it. Consequently Assam government moved over to Dispur, its new capital.

Will this `experiment' be repeated by the Centre in the context of Telangana? At least the happenings so far do not suggest this, some observers feel.

Because, not only the CWC avoided hinting at any such possibility, but even the Seemandhra leaders, at least till now, do not appear to be having such an idea in mind.

That may be because both are aware of the non-practicability of it. New Delhi can't afford to buy further trouble in Telangana. In any case, once again BJP will refuse to back the Bill in such case. And try to take advantage of it with Telangana people, the observers point out.

It may be noted that there are mainly two issues that are exercising the minds of Seemandhra people in the post-division situation. One is the security of Seemandhra people living in Hyderabad and Telangana districts, and a share in the revenues of Hyderabad.

Reports have been indicating that they conveyed such concerns to the Congress and Government leaders and also the latter posed these questions to Telangana parties and organizations. And then primarily, the state of Andhra needs a place to work from till its own capital city is built.

Given this background, making Hyderabad common capital and the 'legal and administrative measures to ensure that both state governments can function efficiently from the common capital' may only be to meet the normal requirements of the situation, observers say.

As far as security is concerned, one apprehension of Telangana quarters is that the entire subject may be taken away from the Telangana Government and handed over to the Governor. But law and order being a state subject such shifting will require Constitutional amendment.

Needless to say that will be opposed by Telangana parties as well as by the BJP and some other parties without whose support the Constitution cannot be amended.

So this can safely be ruled out. In such situation, Telangana government may chose to appoint a special police officer with a separate machinery to look into the complaints of Seemandhra people. In this it may consider the suggestions of Andhra government.

Regarding a share in the revenues of Hyderabad city, which is estimated to generate about 40 per cent of the entire revenues of present AP, as the Telangana leadership is not averse to the proposal, the only issue to be resolved is how much of the amount should the new AP get.

That can be worked out between the two states through negotiations and in case of differences it may be referred to a tribunal kind of organization to be set up by the Centre.

With that the foremost question that remains in the minds of Telangana leaders is, what powers will the Andhra government will have over Hyderabad, if any, while the city remains a common capital.

One view is that it will be limited to using the city for logistical purpose to carry on the regular administration of new AP, since no infrastructure is available there.

And nothing beyond that. The 'legal and administrative measures to ensure that', as mentioned in the CWC resolution, may be only to ensure that such logistical facilities are ensured without any hindrance from the Telangana government.

The Centre may be of the view whatever the oral assurances given by T government on this score it may be prudent to have them on paper in legal terms. However, there are apprehensions in some quarters that such arrangements may grant administrative power also to the AP government over Hyderabad.

Though Digvijay Singh, in his twitter on July 31, sought to assure Telangana that its people need not have any apprehensions and Hyderabad 'will be the capital of Telangana', still all such apprehensions and confusions may expected to be cleared once the Home ministry readies its note and the Cabinet approves it, most probably in the next one week or so.