Cong’s hide-and-seek game on T - Bhandaru Srinivas Rao (I.I.S.)

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)