Recap: What BJP had said on Telangana

New Delhi: BJP spokespersons Prakash Javadekar's Observations:
People of Telangana passed in every democratic test, be it elections, agitations, sacrifice and you take any ordeal, they have been faithful to their cause and never betrayed it. Agitations are total. From 1968 a very big movement started during which over 700 youths committed suicide for a separate state.

If there was any state, which was recommended by the first SRC, it was Telangana. The commission was against division of Hyderabad State and merger of Telangana with Andhra because at that time Andhra was part of Madras Presidency. As per Para 386 of SRC Report, ''It will be in the interest of Andhra as well as Telangana if, for the present, Telangana area is constituted into a separate state which may be known as...' This was written in its recommendation.

The First SRC had supported Telangana. Now, those of Congress talking of the second SRC are dishonest because there is no need for it. Para 388 of First SRC report said, ''If, however, our hopes for the development of environment and conditions congenial to the unification of the areas do not materialize...'

When the Congress had decided whatever the opinion of the first SRC might be, they will merge, then SRC had written, 'That areas do not materialize and if public sentiment in Telangana crystallises itself against the unification of the two states, Telangana will have to continue as a separate unit.' The separate Telangana movement is not of today but is 50 years old.

In the 1956 Gentlemen's Agreement, gentlemanliness disappeared, promise were not kept. Then where is the matter of trust? In the agreement, there is mention of a regional committee, 'Development of economic planning within the framework of the general development' was mentioned, domicile rule was the unit as far as the recruitment to subordinate services, there was mention of 12 years' stay in Telangana, there was mention of balance of income should be reserved for expenditure on development of Telangana area and it was mentioned Telangana should be secured to the students of Telangana and further improved.

About 40 percent ministers should be from Telangana. There were other things in the agreement but none was implemented. Then came Mulki rules. In 1969 there was a big movement led by Chenna Reddy which continued till 1970 in which more than 300 people sacrificed there lives.

In the elections, he separated from Congress and formed a separate branch and 11 members from it were elected. ''So, continuously Telangana has voted for Telangana. Telangana has aspired to Telangana and Telangana has a right to exist as Telangana.'' You go anywhere in Telangana you will hear people chant 'Jai Telangana'.

The six-point formula, which came after the 1969 agitation, mentioned 'greater financial allocation', 'preference to local candidate', 'recruitment of local candidates should be preferred', etc. Thereafter Presidential Order 371 (d) was brought in.

When 'Jai Andhra' movement was launched, all the safeguards, including SC judgment on Mulki Rules, were nullified with 32nd constitution amendment of Article 371 (d).

Thereafter, GO 610 was brought out, which is not implemented even today depriving the Telangana people of their legitimate jobs. Three and a half lakh people were to get jobs but did not get.

People of Telangana desire it. Telangana is feasible and possible. We have formed three states and you have to form one state. You made a promise in 2004 and the Common Minimum Programme of UPA promised to form Telangana state and you broke that promise.

You have to bring a proposal pertaining to an issue of public movement, public sentiment, which is feasible. We said earlier 'you bring that proposal or bill, and we will support it'. We are giving you a blank cheque so that you bring an amendment to the Constitution and we will support it.

In 2004 the Congress had allied with TRS and promised to form a Telangana state. Later, as there was no intention of keeping the promise, they constituted Pranab Mukherjee Committee.

It was not formed by the government but by the Congress and it sends us a letter asking for our opinion. We asked, the Congress does not spell its stance but demands ours. Later, Rosaiah Committee was constituted.

In 2009, the Congress had no electoral understanding with TRS, yet promised a separate state. The first-phase polling was held in Telangana and the second phase in Ralayaseema. As the first phase ended, the then chief minister changed his tone and language. There was no Telangana issue any longer. It was the story of betrayal.

On December 9, 2009, in the very House, home minister P Chidambaram said, ''Let me announce that the process of formation of the separate state of Telangana has begun.'' He said 'has begun'. In the two-and-a-half years till today, May 4, 2012, nothing has been done.

Fifteen days later, on December 23, 2009, the assurance changes and it is said that there is no consensus. What was consensus about as the issue was to be dealt with voting. An all-party meeting was held and the opinions varied. Was there to be same opinion, why should there be separate politcal parties?

When Srikrishna Committee was constituted, we opposed it because it was an excuse to buy time. What happened to the report? It was asked to suggest one solution but it gave six alternatives and itself cancelled three solutions. The other three can be considered or not, it said.

Sakala Janula Samme began in which 4 crore people participated. People came out on streets and for 42 days the agitation continued. Not a single incident of violence happened.

Nine lakh employees were on strike. Teachers and students participated. Four national highways were blocked. For two days, trains were blocked. 54,000 RTC buses were stopped, 62,000 workers of Singareni Collieries and 25,000 electricity employees were on strike.

The entire Telangana came to halt. It was an important non-violent agitation the like of which was not seen in many years. Yet, the government did not keep the promise.

I will tell you an important aspect of the entire thing, which is the undisclosed chapter of Srikrishna Commission. They have given a five- chaptered report which was made public. But there was a sixth chapter which is undisclosed.

The issue went to High Court and the court commented that it had never seen such a commission. It was a commission headed by a judge of Supreme Court but how it is used is now clear. What the other members of the commission did, no one knows. A supplementary note is given, in which it is recommended that Congress do a political management.

''Action also needs to be initiated for softening the TRS, to the extent possible. The Congress High Command must sensitise its own MPs and MLAs to educate them about the wisdom of arriving at an acceptable and workable solution with the ruling party and the main Opposition party for Telangana demand being brought on the same page.'

Can it be a report of a commission? It further writes, 'There is a need for providing placement of representatives of Telangana in key positions, such as chief minister, deputy chief minister, but it has to been done.'

How to control the media is also recommended by the commission. It writes, ''Except for two channels, Raj News and HMTV, the rest are supporters of United Andhra Pradesh. A coordinated action on their part has to be the potential of shaping the perception of the common man.

However, the big journalists in the respective regions are locals and are likely to capture only those events and news which reflect the regional sentiments.'' Can the Commission write like this about the media?

It further writes, ''The print media is hugely dependent on government for advertisement revenue, and, if carefully handled, can be an effective tool to achieve this goal.'' ''Achieve this goal' means not forming Telangana, betraying Telangana. The commission's report is to achieve that goal.

If there is an agitation, which weapon to be used was also suggested in the report. ''In my discussion with the chief secretary and DGP, the kind of equipment and weaponry to be used were also discussed and it was agreed that weaponry used should be such as not to cause fatal injuries but effective enough to bring the agitations quickly under control'.

High Court had strongly objected to it and commented can there be such a report. The manual suggested by the committee, in its secret supplementary note, possess an open challenge, if not threat, to the very system of democracy.

That is why, we have to understand that till date they have used CBI as Congress Bureau of Investigation and now CCT is new. Whatever committee they setup, it will work as Congress Committee on Telangana.

It will be like throwing salt on the wounds of the people. The long history of the Telangana agitation has a justified demand and many had sacrificed for the cause. Telangana has to be separated.

Bill's Salient Points

■ Andhra Pradesh was formed in 1956 after amalgamating Telugu-speaking areas but the first States Reorganisation Commission had recognised Telengana as a potential separate state and the first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had even assured justice to Telengana while inaugurating the new state

■ Despite assurances, lop-sided policies led to neglect of some areas in education, employment, irrigation, development, etc., and to an acute feeling of alienation among the people of Telengana who have been demanding a separate state since 1969

■ Nine of 10 Telangana districts are recognised by the Centre as backward. Despite availability of many natural resources, the benefits have failed to reach its people

■ Smaller states make administration smoother and efficient, and neglected areas developed. People get more easy access to the government and the disparity between the developed and non-developed areas will come down

■ There is merit in the demand for a separate state of Telengana as it serves the cause of geographical continuity, economic viability and administrative convenience

■ The Centre announced on December 9, 2009 that the process of formation of Telengana state had begun but is backtracking and has taken a complete U-turn on its promise. This House urges upon the government to create a separate state of Telengana with a separate legislature, executive and judiciary in accordance with the Constitution.