Cong’s hide-and-seek game on T - Bhandaru Srinivas Rao (I.I.S.)
As I have written in these columns in the past, the people of
Telangana are yet again set to get betrayed by their own leaders. A
conspiracy has already been launched none other than at 10 Janpath in
New Delhi, the official residence of UPA Chairperson and Congress
President Sonia Gandhi, to dilute the issue. The ‘resignation drama’
script which was penned by the coterie of Sonia was enacted to
perfection by the region’s MPs and MLAs, to give an impression about
their commitment.
But, now their reluctance to carry forward their mounted pressure on
the Centre, is a clear indication of their real intentions. The
‘escape route’ they found expressing apprehensions on T-JAC leadership
not at all convincing. Simply because, the T-JAC bound to act in
accordance of TRS diktat as both were committed to take the fight for
separate statehood to its logical conclusion. Why then, find fault
with T-JAC for working as an arm of TRS? It will and it shall, as far
as an ‘honest’ Telanganite is concerned.
Attributing motives against T-JAC Convenor Prof Kodandaram and
demanding for his removal, uncalled for. To me he appears working in
accordance with the aspirations of people of the region and no where
deviated from the task entrusted to him. Absolutely, there is no
logic in Congress leaders demand to replace Prof Kodandaram with
either educationists' Chukka Ramaiah or Prof Haragopal. This doesn’t
mean I hold any grouse against the two, who enjoy equally greater
credibility as individuals.
Today, it appears, the Congress leadership in New Delhi yet again
determined to betray the people of Telangana. It has betrayed in 1969
and now. The only difference I find between 1969 movement for
separate statehood spearheaded then by Dr Marri Chenna Reddy of
Telangana Praja Samiti (TPS) and now by the Telangana Rashtra Samiti
(TRS) headed by K Chandrasekhara Rao, the sincerity and honesty of the
leadership. Unlike Chenna Reddy, Rao appears more honest and ‘shrewd’
not to fall a prey to the lures of Congress. Had Rao like Chenna been
a power-hungry leader, he too could have got trapped by Delhi
leadership.
His pre-condition laid to Cong for ‘merging his party’’ only after
declaration of separate statehood for Telangana is undoubtedly
appreciable. Congress ‘game plan’ is clear – assessing pros and cons
on bifurcation. That’s why the state political affairs in-charge
Gulam Nabi Azad as well senior Congress leader and party’s core
committee member Pranab Mukherjee wanted to know from those who
resigned to MP and MLA seats from the Telangana region whether they
can retain their seats if byelections thrust upon. Though, the TRS
assures Delhi of ensuring the party’s existence better in the past, if
separate state carved out, yet it appears ill-afford to lose their
base in other two regions of the state – Andhra and Rayalaseema.
The party had also apparently realized that the demand for separate
statehood took an ugly turn, if not slipped out of hands, only after
the death of a strong leader like Y S Rajasekhara Reddy. Today, the
party lacks such a strong leader in the state, who is acceptable to
all three region people. Had Sonia and her advisors been
‘accommodative’ at least to the young YSR scion YS Jaganmohan Reddy by
entrusting him the job of Pradesh Congress Chief, the situation
wouldn’t have precipitated to this far. That did not happen, reasons best known to the
Congress leadership. Thus far, what one can infer is that YSR
adversaries succeeded in poisoning the mind of Sonia. That she
developed animosity against the late leader is evident from the
revelation of YSR widow at her party’s first plenary at Idupulapaya in
native Kadapa district. As honorary President of the newly formed YSR
Congress party, she blurt out what transpired between her and Sonia,
when she met the latter along with her son and MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy
at 10 Janpath. Instead of acknowledging the efforts of her husband
YSR for bringing back the party to power in 2004 after a decade long
isolation, apparently boasted of attributing that achievement to
herself. No wonder Sonia’s unsavoury remarks hurt the YSR widow and
endorsed son’s proposal to launch a new party to teach a lesson or two
to egoist Sonia and her Congress party.
Well, the YSR Congress has already inflicted enough humiliation when
YSR widow Vijayalakshmi and her son Jaganmohan Reddy registered
resounding victories in the by-elections from Pulivendula assembly and
Kadapa parliament constituencies, not so long ago. Even the first
plenary of YSR Congress party proved a grand success, though those
from Telangana region, who attended in big numbers, gave vent to their
feelings by reverberating the meeting place with ‘Jai Telangana’
slogans.
Congress or other opposition parties criticism for YSR Congress party
not announcing its stand on state bifurcation, sounds silly as well
funny. It’s the Congress leadership at the Centre, in particular
Sonia Gandhi, who has to take the call on Telangana and decide either
way. Today, it is clear the Congress headed by Sonia Gandhi lack
courage to take a decision on Telangana as it fears of irreparable
loss to party in other two regions of the state. This apart, it also
equally feared as the BSP leader and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister
Mayawati’s request for division of her state
pending with the UPA government for action.
While one appreciate the commitment and dedication of TRS leader K
Chandrasekhara Rao for accomplishing his goal, his party’s next plan
of action should pressurize the Congress and TDP MPs and MLAs to force
them ensure their resignations are accepted by the Speakers of both
Lok Sabha as well Legislative Assembly. If necessary, they should not
hesitate to accept the demand for replacement of Prof Kodandaram with
either Chukka Ramaiah or Prof Haragopal, once they fulfil their
promise of ensuring their resignations acceptance. The TRS should put
continuous pressure, especially Congress MPs and MLAs and never allow
them drift away from the stand they have taken. It should also ensure peace in the region as in the past as the decision lies more in the political process than in the streets.
People of the region are emotively surcharged and appear willing for
any sacrifices. Now the onus is more on TRS as it could succeed in
pushing the issue to this far, and now with another ‘strong push”
(dakka) it can ensure Telangana becoming a reality.
Today, the Congress MLAs and MPs too have no escape route. Time has
come for them to decide whether they would like to be remembered as
‘villains of T’ in history, or the ‘real martyrs.’ It’s up to them
to decide as no ‘buyers’ for the ‘blame game’ either on the TDP or YSR
Congress! ( 11-07-2011)
