Telangana win the race

Paul Rai, KalimNews, Kalimpong, 6 December 2013: With the Union Cabinet’s go ahead on the parliamentary bill fr the creation of Telangana, it was a moment of celebration in the entire region which would last for years to come. Finally a dream came true and on national TV channels – it was the news of the moment. Although it’s a time of celebration and the leader of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS, single major party) Mr. K. Chandrashekher Rao has a reason to address the whole Telangana and the nation at large for the purpose of TRS’s existence and its achievement, however, he said until the final bill is passed in the Parliament, he would not celebrate. 
The Constitutional promise for Telangana has been fulfilled. It’s an outcome of TRS and Congress partnership in having created a new state, and BJP as well for supporting the bill, whereas BJP wants the bill to be tabled in the next Monsoon Session. This Winter session of Parliament will end by 20^thDecember. It is likely that the President may send the draft bill to the State Assembly ASAP, however, he is not at the office at present. It also depends on the timeframe given to the State Assembly by the President to submit the bill again in the Parliament, and if in the event of submitting the bill before 20^thDec 2014 it is likely to be tabled in this Session itself or it may get delayed by another eight to nine months to get the final bill passed. The effort put in by all the people of Telangana in the leadership of K Chandrashekher Rao is a burning example and it’s a great lesson for the people of Darjeeling and Dooars.

To douse the fire of Rayalaseema it was proposed to include two backward districts of Rayalaseema region, Kurnool and Ananthapur in Telangana by creating Rayala-Telangana, nevertheless,  Mr. Rao and his supporters put the foot down in claiming what was rightful and they prevailed.  Telangana will comprise of ten districts Hyderabad, Adilabad, Khammam, Karimnagar, Mahbubnagar, Medak, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Rangareddy, and Warangal, moreover, Hyderabad will be the common capital for both the States for the next ten years. Now the bill is already put to the President of India as he is the head of the State and shortly the same will be sent to the Andhra Pradesh state Assembly. Telangana has cleared all the hurdles through perseverance and dedication towards the cause of Statehood formation.

It will be the 29^th State of India with the area of 114,840 square kilometers. When Gorkhaland will become the 30^th State of India??? is another interesting question. People have less interest in the Constitutional provision pertaining to our statehood, when you talk from the Constitutional prospective it may become uninteresting wherein the emotional things becomes the most talkative subject. Many consider this as mathematics, in fact it is not. Whereas, people of Telangana realized what was their Constitutional right for the self determination to demand for a state, they believed and they received, simple is that. People of Darjeeling and Dooars need to be more serious and focused in demanding our right, we should not get confused with any odd political happenings. It happens, even in Telangana such odd things had happened, but they kept focusing on the movement. Even K Chandrashekher Rao was simply termed as king of ‘bandhs’ as many people considered that his favorite pass time was to call bandhs. But those bandhs were necessary, and now they are going to reap the harvest. I am happy to realize that Telangana is no more an issue, now it has become a reality.

Late  Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara famously known as YSR who is still considered like god by many people in Andhra Pradesh because of his benevolence and extraordinary qualities as a political leader. His son Jaganmohan Reddy who is one of the richest men in India, is taking a stroll to different states to gain consensus of different North and South Indian politicians pertaining to the formation of Telangana. However, he knows that sooner or later Telangana will become a state but to have a real impact like his father he is opposing Telangana in order to have better hold over Andhra politics after the Telangana is formed. Telangana has many Tribal regions so as Andhra Pradesh; also the Reddy influence is more in Andhra side rather than Telangana, so both ways he is benefitting. In the coming years most likely Vizag (Vishakhapatnam) would be the capital of Andhra Pradesh when Hyderabad becomes the capital of only one state.

Modi’s recent statement on the abrogation of Article 370 with regard to Jammu Kashmir was a solo political performance before the Winter Session began in the Parliament, which is also his party’s long standing view on Article 370. However, Modi’s later comment was quite organized when he said “I said it to see what would happen and it landed exactly as I wished”. Apparently, he was trying to prompt a kind of debate by making such unconstitutional statements, while the intention was to get the solidarity for the Kashmiri Pundits (living in the diasporas) from the entire population. He was playing a religious/sentimental card to secure the major vote bank. This was his vital card which he played at the crucial moment when Delhi election was at hand. In fact, Article 370 is an integral part of Constitution and it’s a bridge that connects Kashmir with India.

The Aam Adhmi Party (AAP) – after having campaigned against the alcohol with broom in hand – it looks like even drunkards have voted for them in order to bring about the change. First time in the history of Delhi-election the first timers like AAP (a political party) coming with such a majority is quite astonishing. And from Delhi vote results experts, Medias and political organization are busy doing some political calculation for the 16th Lok Sabha election 2014. While India is preparing for vote games, in the Parliament Winter Session is on and Communal Violence Bill is gaining country wide debate and criticism. When these are getting highlighted nationwide, we should also enquire what is happening with the additional list of Schedule Tribe bill pertaining to the hill tribes of Darjeeling District which is supposed to be tabled and due for the discussion. Since the Cabinet has given a green signal for the formation of Telangana, likewise they should expedite the process of recognizing the additional list of Schedule Tribe in this Winter Session itself, by hook or by crook. 

At present, it is the beacon of hope for Darjeeling and Dooars to become a State i.e. by becoming a Schedule Area. So we must have our voices heard in the Parliament by all means. Gorkhaland is a century old demand – it is Constitutional and we have the Constitutional guarantee to become a State yet we need to have our vital criteria fulfilled by becoming a Schedule Area with more Tribal percentage. Telangana demand was much younger if we compare to our, still they managed to finish the race before us as they were already qualified to become a state. 

Now it’s our turn, we should be steadfast in carrying out our Statehood movement in Darjeeling, Dooars and Delhi. We must give up our differences. If the statehood is the common goal then we must learn from Telangana movement.