TELANGANA AGITATION
LESSONS FOR THE FUTURE
The separatist Telangana Agitation is in a very vigorous form for nearly a month now. It was just a few years ago – that on this very Plank, the TRS Party fought elections. But, YSR and TDP fought TRS in Telenagana and trounced TRS in a convincing manner.
While TRS retained its political Plank for a separate Telangana even after that, it wasn’t scoring any major victories over Congress and TDP in any elections – when YSR was still around.
But, the Political fortunes of TRS changed a lot after YSR’s demise. Congress brought in a non-charismatic CM like Mr.Rosaiah – who could not handle either TRS or TDP politically, and left the seat of CM on his own. His only plus point was that he was a good and obedient Congress man. Next came Mr.Kiran Kumar Reddy, but, precious time was lost for the congress by then. The Jagan Mohan Reddy break away group made things more difficult for Congress. No one in Congress knew how to handle him and his ambitions. Mr. Chiranjeevi was brought in – but he too was not handled by Congress effectively.
All these internal problems of Congress raised the Political fortunes of TRS in particular and of all separatists in general – despite some of the negative points in them.
So, now the Telangana region is in turmoil for nearly a month. Some decision is expected from Congress High Command in the coming days – on formation of Telangana as a State.
What are the lessons that India must learn from the separatist movement that arose in Telangana - which became a strong force gradually. A few factors and their lessons are examined here :
One wise move by the Centre was the formation of the Sri Krishna Committee to study the developmental aspects and solutions of the Telangana Region vis a vis other regions in the combined AP state.
It submitted a report, which showed no bias against Telangana in allocation of funds or developmental activities. The work done by Sri Krishna Committee was however rubbished by the TRS more on emotional grounds than on any concrete arguments or realistic grounds. But, there wasn’t any one from the Government side – to effectively defend the Sri Krishna committee report and challenge the claims of the Separatists. If necessary – assuming that the Sri Krishna committee report is faulty - even a second committee could be formed by the centre or the state - with retired Judges and experienced senior bureaucrats from out side the state - to re-look into the issues and submit a second report.
This was indeed necessary in this case – and it is necessary in the case of any such future, separatist demands. It is essential that there is a clear, reasonable, well recognized ground for any such separatist Political agitations. If there is none, the Government of the day has the responsibility to prove the hollowness of the claims of such separatists with facts and figures.
If the separatist demand continues in spite of there being no such bias against the region in the past – the Government should be free to expose the vested interests of the separatist politicians and deal with them as a law and order problem. But, if the separatists have a genuine ground on the basis of these statistics – the government has the responsibility to look into it and correct the situation to the satisfaction of the people of the region – in a transparent manner, and fast enough.
In fact, it is necessary for every government – to compile such statistics on a year to year basis in respect of each district of each state and ensure that no district suffers by being politically and economically neglected. India needs such district-wise statistics of developmental goals and developmental achievements. This is a lesson which India must learn and implement immediately.
The second lesson is more serious. A considerable section among the separatists were adopting forcible and anti-democratic methods of suppressing the FREE EXPRESSION of non-separatist voices in the Telangana region itself. How was it that the same people voted for YSR and TDP not long ago – but are now towing the line of TRS and other separatists without a dissenting voice? Whatever happened to the non-separatist voices in Telangana?
This Fundamental right of Freedom of Expression of every Individual must be guarded by the Governments of all states and the Centre at all costs. This right is most basic to the functioning of a democracy. Any anti democratic, bullying methods must be dealt with firmly on DAY ONE, and on every day. Any one can seek a separate state – but they can’t bully the others in the region to tow their demand against their own wishes. If bullying tactics are not stopped – all people will either follow the separatists meekly or remain silent. It may not be that today, there are no non-separatist voices at all in Telangana – but obviously, they are not free to voice their opinions. Some people on some channels have said significantly – give us SOME, FIRM DECISION – and ensure that life comes to normal! These are obviously tell-tale signs.
This is no way for any Government to enforce the constitutionally guaranteed Individual rights. The Telangana agitation has now come a long way and perhaps it may have majority of Telanganiites’ backing as of now. But, the Centre and states must learn to protect Individual rights for free Expression – on every occasion that these rights are infringed.
Aren’t there such infringements in other states of India as well - as of now? India is yet to learn to protect the individual freedom of expression - from people who want to suppress it.
Let us look at the concept of freedom of expression, in the purest sense of the term explained so well in the following quotes :
Ø If the freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent, we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter. - George Washington, First President of the USA.
Ø I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. – Voltaire, French writer and historian.
Ø Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties.- John Milton, English poet.
Ø In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way. The third is freedom from want…. The fourth is freedom from fear.- Franklin D. Roosevelt quotes (32nd US President).
Ø A people which is able to say everything becomes able to do everything.- Napoleon Bonaparte
Ø If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all.- Noam Chomsky
To me – it appears that – Governments and Political Parties have failed to protect individual freedom of non-separatists in the Telangana region. It does not matter whether the majority are separatists or non-separatists. But, individual opinions must not be suppressed by any force or bullying tactics. India will face many future problems if Governments fail to address this important issue in future.
The third issue is – Governments at the Centre and states must learn to seek individual opinions periodically on important issues – through some sort of referendum. This is becoming increasingly essential – as regional Parties are proliferating at the cost of National parties and National Parties are lacking national leaders of any significant stature. The former phenomenon is squarely due to the latter phenomenon. India’s concept of UNITY IN DIVERSITY is becoming more of diversity and less of Unity – due to this problem. It is not that the general masses are less Indian. It is simply that the political ambitions of the leaders is becoming more and more sectarian than Indian.
In today’s political atmosphere, people’s voices must be heard more in a free atmosphere – than political voices. This is the only way to preserve Unity over diversity. So, on every important issue – we must evolve a system of Public Opinion Polls – covering a large fabric of general public.
For example – look at the way – Team Anna is going about conducting such public opinion polls, in various important constituencies, when actually, it should be the government doing it. Some TV channels and some organizations have developed excellent systems of predicting Poll outcomes, accurate to a significant degree. Such methods must be adopted, preferably by Government, with unbiased third party expertise, with larger public participation, for all important issues. This is an important lesson, which if adopted in right time, can avoid many problems from arising at all.
We do find that every separatist agitation necessarily divides people emotionally too – on grounds which are unconnected with people on either side. The whole Telugu Film Industry shifted from Chennai to Hyderabad, assuming Hyderabad to be their own place! And, most of the people who shifted from Chennai to Hyderabad then, actually have roots in either the coastal AP or Rayala Seema regions, with some coming from Telangana region too. Now – where are their voices being heard at all? Suddenly, the separatist voices are making them feel as persona non grata. It is also a well known fact – that all the CMs, specially NTR and Chandra Babu Naidu, devoted total energy to develop Hyderabad region, almost neglecting all other regions. There were many other CMs who did develop the Hyderabad region – much more than any other region in the whole of AP. Hyderabad was not worth a second look twenty years ago. But today, it is a premier city in India. If people from other regions felt free to settle in that region – it is because of the one single reason that the whole of AP was emotionally treated by them as one. That emotional bond is under merciless attack today. This can’t be ignored. Either in this case; or in any other future cases any where in the country.
There is one aspect peculiar to the whole of Indian Political system today. Most of our MLAs, MPs, State level Ministers and other Politicians in all states - have not lived outside their state, or even outside their region in the same state, for even a period of 2 years. This is the single most significant cause of parochialism raising its head at different places, periodically.
Why do some of the separatist leaders not feel an iota of remorse while speaking ill of people of other regions? Because, they have not lived outside their region. Their world is not even India. Their world is not even their state. Their world is their small region comprising the focus of their Political ambitions. It is so with every state in India today. Name one CM who has lived outside his state for at least 2 years! How can they be expected to have an ALL INDIA OUTLOOK?
I feel, our electoral reforms need to start with this first prescription that every Political aspirant must have lived at least in 2 states of India for a period of not less than 2 years in each and must have toured all states of India, having stayed in each state for at least a week – seeing places and talking to people across that state.The Centre must arrange for such tours for all Political aspirants.
If we don’t make such a significant Electoral reform, which I consider as minimum requirement for every Political aspirant in India, India faces the danger of more and more diversity and less and less unity. Where it will lead India finally – is anybody’s guess. When you hear the views of Politicians who have thus stayed in a number of states and toured many states – the differences between them and those who have not done that – becomes very clear.
If Telangana is formed, there is intrinsically no issues about it. Telangana needs development in all of its districts. But, there is a huge need to develop many districts in the other two regions in the state – which are factually as much or much more backward than Telangana. There is also a greater need to foster Unity of mindsets in the people of all three regions.
For the Future, Let us all strive to ensure - that all of our Politicians hold a more vigorous ALL INDIA OUTLOOK than at present.
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