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Don't fight for a
state when you can get a country
WSN Network
 As demands for
newer states in India rise like a crescendo, the fact that the
country is artificially bound without any common traits that are
required to build a legitimate nation state is becoming more and
more clear. The Nagaland fighters have pinned down the government
into agreeing that the Constitution of India will no longer apply to
their state. Kashmir talks are on, though behind the veil, even as
the establishment is forced to engage those who do not believe in
the Indian Constitution.
In such an
atmosphere, the demand for Telangana has raised perhaps deeply
entrenched notions that a large section of the local population is
not satisfied with the concept of an overarching nation state
muzzling smaller regions and their aspirations. But the fasts in
favour of Telangana earlier, and against dividing Andhra Pradesh
now, clearly denote that
New Delhi
is losing the faith of its people and the capacity to keep them
under its leash.
For many in
Andhra Pradesh, December 9, 2009 was akin to a black day in the
political history of the Telugu society when a Bengali, a Gujju, a
Madrasi and a Malayali in the name of a four member core committee
of the Congress party decided to divide the home state of Telugu
people, Andhra Pradesh, into pieces.
Why did wily P
Chidambaram chose mid-night of December 9 to announce such a major
policy decision to create the seperate state of Telangana? If
bifurcation of Telugu is a sort of birthday gift from Mrs Sonia
Gandhi to the people of Telangana, then there are many with Telugu
pride who were not ready to gift-wrap it. The Telugu Bidda's revolt
is more against the machinations of the Indian state than against
those who wanted a space of their own. All over Andhra and
Rayalaseema regions, the unprecedented and spontaneous revolt
against Delhi is sending clear signals that New Delhi's writ will
not be respected if it cannot respect the aspirations of the people.
In a hurry to
gain maximum mileage by granting Telangana unilaterally with a mid
night decision, Congress even ignored not just its UPA partners but
also the chief minister of the state and other rank and file. Now it
is trying to put the blame on other political parties for nodding
their heads at all party meetings.
Of course, all
political parties agreed for the formation of Telangana in principle
but did the people of the state agree? The mandate in the recent
elections was clearly against Telangana. But New Delhi
ignored the people's democratic voice.
Whatever may be
the political reasons for this entire episode, the Telugu pride is
at crossroads today. Telugu Bidda is at decision making point, but
it needs to take a tough stand. If the state of Andhra Pradesh had
come into its own, it was because many had made huge sacrifices.
Leaders from both Congress and Communist party fought for a long
time to bring all the Telugu speaking people from three different
regions under one umbrella. Andhra Pradesh was the first linguistic
state to be formed in
India.
If the union
government cannot maintain the integrity of state of Andhra Pradesh
as one, the people need to think seriously of "why a separate state,
why not a separate country for coastal Andhra and Rayalseema"?
As Sai Nuthakki
said, "Why do we still have to remain in a
Union
that never respects our sentiments and emotions?"
But what reasons
can really lead the people to that end?
Even though
Telugu is the second most spoken language in India, it always
remains behind Tamil and other regional languages in all aspects.
Even though the state provides maximum number of MPs for a ruling
coalition, they hardly get any thing in return.
Today's federal
system is not providing equal opportunities for all the states. Some
of the political parties in the union government are not working in
real federal spirit. Some states like Tamil Nadu, with their arm
twisting techniques, are always taking advantage at the expense of
states like Andhra Pradesh.
It had been
proven several times in case of roads, railways, ports and other
major projects. For example, take NH9, Hyd-Vij high way. The people
of Andhra have been struggling for the expansion of this road for
the last ten years and the surface transport minister, who always
happens to be a Tamilian, puts all kinds of hurdles.
They are facing
the same treatment in all areas. As a separate nation, they will not
have to depend on any one for clearances and they can make their own
decisions for the development of coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema.
They have a 1000-km coast line with many ports and huge reserves of
natural gas and petroleum, a potential to become OPEC member. The
people of this region are very hard working and enterprising in
nature. Andhra has huge potential to become itself an IT and
Pharmaceutical hub with its vast pool of technical resources.
The fertile
lands of Krishna Godavri delta, the mineral rich lands of Rayalseema
can make this country a self sufficient and a booming export
oriented country. Tourism and Tollywood can also contribute
immensely in creating thousands of jobs and development in this
area.
It can take
Israel as its role model and evolve into a developed country within
a span of 15 to 20 years with proper planning and vision. They can
become a major force in global trade and a major player in ASEAN
region with free global treaties with India, USA, China and Israel.
With all these
developments, one can visualize a bright prosperous combination of
Singapore and Saudi in this area. Why lose sleep over losing
Hyderabad
any more because then the people will have the potential to create
three Singapores in this area?
Another biggest
advantage is Defense. Today
India
is spending nearly 20% of its budget on defense and the new Andhra
nation need not waste huge amounts on defense. Instead it can spend
these funds on health, human development and education on par with
developed countries.
Because Pakistan
will not be its problem anymore, Kashmir will not be their issue any
more. Communalism will not be their headache any more as BJP has no
prospect to grow in this area. So they won't have to carry the
burden of all these liabilities of India.
The people will
not even need to move away from
India.
They will still remain part of Indian sub-continent maintaining same
rich traditions, religions and culture.
To those of you
who think these are separatist tendencies, may we remind that such
demands emerge when the true federal spirit is killed. It is New
Delhi that killed federalism. Andhra Pradesh can live with the
blessings of Lord Venkateswara. Long Live the United States of
Andhra.
23
December 2009
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