Who Gave Telangana?

TELANGANA AND CONGRESS

Who Gave Telangana?

Both TRS and congress are claiming that they are the parties responsible for formation of Telangana. What is the reality?

Hyderabad: The Telangana movement existed for the last 65 years. During the last 12 years TRS has taken lead to guide the movement. In this exercise, many joint action committees were formed involving all the section of Telangana people to fight for the T-cause.

During the peak of the T-movement, TDP gave letter to centre advising them to settle the T-issue amicably. Subsequently, the YSRCP also advised the centre to go ahead with the T-formation as per article 3 of the Constitution of India.

During 2008 chief of Telangana Rashtra Samitha (TRS) KCR went on a fast unto death for T-cause. The then home minister P Chidambaram made a declaration on behalf of the government of India, that the necessary formalities for Telangana formation would be taken. In view of the dissidence that came up in the Seemandhra after the declaration, the government of India revised its decision and the issue was put in cold storage once again.

The Telangana movement spread to village levels and there were innumerable cases of suicide by students and youth for T-cause. Left with the no other option, during July 2013 congress high command declared their desire to go ahead with AP split to form Telangana. Then the Seemandhra MPs (from Congress party) proposed ‘no confidence motion’ on the UPA government in connection with the methodology adopted for T-bill clearance.

The T-bill clearance in both the houses of parliament was possible only with the numerical support from BJP which is the main opposition party. Lok Sabha witnessed unprecedented incidents at the time of clearing T-bill. Cameras were switched off and no live coverage was there during the discussion on T-bill.

The Rajya Sabha witnessed yet another interesting scene on discussion of T-bill. Many speakers mentioned their views on T-bill and the BJP ensured statement from Prime Minster regarding a special package for Seemandhra. This package was necessary in view of the fact that the Seemandhra would be left with lesser financial resources as the main revenue centre for AP (Hyderabad) is going to Telangana as per the bill.

During the T-bill discussions many of the congress leaders including some ministers were in constant touch with BJP leadership requesting for numerical help for clearance of the bill. Congress was unable to find the required numbers to get the bill cleared as their own MPs planned a ‘no confidence motion’ against the central government.

Now after clearance of T-bill, TRS and congress are trying to claim the credit. But really BJP is the party that respected the T-sentiment and ensured clearance of the T-bill in the parliament.