It is well understood that the Telangana agitation is an inspiration for similar movements in other parts of India. The 26-day bandh called by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) in the Darjeeling district is an ongoing case in point. The announced aim is to force the central government to ‘clarify' its position on the demand for a Gorkhaland State in the wake of the Srikrishna Committee's report on the future of Telangana. It bears reiteration that the Committee's real recommendation is for a united Andhra Pradesh with meaningful autonomy, secured by constitutional measures, to the Telengana region. The GJM leadership is under increased pressure from its rank and file to clarify where it stands on the Gorkhaland demand. It demonstrated some moderation in the talks it has had with the central and West Bengal governments — to explore a regional autonomy solution for Darjeeling very much like what the Srikrishna Committee has favoured for Telangana. The three sides have agreed, in principle, to replace the virtually defunct Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) — which was born in 1988 out of the violent movement for ‘Gorkhaland' spearheaded by Subhash Ghisingh — with an alternative regional set-up with greater financial and administrative powers. After the last round of talks in December 2010, a major stumbling block was removed, with the Morcha leadership announcing it was agreeable to allow the conduct of local body elections in Darjeeling hills. One contentious issue relates to the unit of regional autonomy. The Morcha wants Gorkha-dominated areas in the Terai and Dooars regions in north Bengal to be included. Other groups in those regions and the State government are firmly opposed to it. The central government is reported to have agreed to a process of verifying the population claims after the establishment of the empowered regional set-up.
That the expected green signal has not yet come from the central Cabinet Committee on Security could be a source of anxiety for the GJM leadership. Simultaneously and unwisely, it is projecting the Srikrishna Committee's characterisation of Statehood for Telangana as the ‘second-best option' as though it were an unqualified recommendation and did not come with the condition that all three regions of Andhra Pradesh must agree to it! Not long ago, the party accused Mr. Ghisingh's Gorkha National Liberation Front of burying the Gorkhaland demand under the Hill Council. Fearful of being accused of a second ‘sell-out,' the GJM leadership is making out that an empowered regional authority will only be an interim arrangement en route to full statehood. As it goes around shutting down Darjeeling, it must remember that raising separatist expectations is a dangerous game that is more than likely to have unintended consequences.
Keywords: Telangana, Gorkhaland
Dear friends ...This Telangana State demand is there 60 years of struggle, it was there even with Nizam Govt. from 1930 to 1948 Telangana (previously Hyderabad) State got Independence from Nizam sep 1948 not 15th Aug 1947, Hyderabad Separate State in India since sep 1948 to 1st nov 1956. Telangana people fighting against Andhra Leaders since 1950 not to join with Andhra Region. After This so called Andhra Pradesh was formed in Nov. 1st 1956 Andhra Leaders (not People of Andhra) cheated and discriminated Telangana People, miss-used the power and they became the chief Ministers of this State for nearly 50 years out out of 54yrs of so called Andhra Pradesh State History and diverted funds, development and cultural attack on Telangana People. Andhra leaders always over ruled all the agreements with Telangana Region and dominated as a dictators like presidents Zia ul hak and Musharraf in Pakistan. Telangana the word was banned in State assembly for so many years. This Andhra Leaders killed more then 400 students in Osmania University, Hyderabad in Telangana Agitation in 1969).(Present Telangana Agitation since 9th Dec 2009 more then 400 Students are died) All this Ex. Andhra CMs are Late Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy(Ex.President of India),Late Bramhananda Reddy, Chandrababu Naidu, late YS Rajasekar Reddy, K Rosaiah and present Kiran kumar Reddy are responsible for this killings all these yrs .I Request the our Indian friends here, please do not put this issue to other states demands in India, No one was asked when BJP govt. made 3 (in north India) new states in India. This is Telangana peoples long term stuggle,will and wish please support as a Humans. I agree and support all the aspects, which our friends shown there above respected comments for Telangana cause...Jai Telangana...Jai Hind.
The Gorkhaland issue is the oldest issue in India demanding separate administrative zone. If one visits the area the root cause will be evident i.e. the socio-economic negligence, inequity of wealth distribution and growth opportunities. Much novice demands of small states were agreed by governments but GL being 'just' diluted! Is originally peaceful approach of the people from hills interpreted as weakness? What is the problem if groups on merit and data want separate statehood for equitable growth and development within the constitutional framework.It is much wiser to agree with brain than blood and lives!!
Please dont bring in the comparision of USA having a large number of states and using it to argue that the increasing demand for states. India is a maturing of Democracy. USA with ALaska is 3 times in size to India with a population of 1/4th of India and the last state to be added to the Union was in 1860's, after their civil war. Most of their states when formed were literally uninhabited, except by local red Indian tribes. The population in most of their states now is very homogenous and always shifting. Their states (many of them) have a straight line borders, indicating they are divided based on administrative convenience rather than region, religion or language etc basis. And they don't have any demands for new states now, which is the real indicator of a matured democracy. Please observe that here in India most of the demands are based along one of these divisive lines, which can form the basis for furthur division in future. This is a clear indication of degrading of Democracy. And the worst part is most of the seperate state movements are sustained by invoking hate against 'other' people and thus easily blaming them for everything wrong with ourselves. It is not wrong or undemocratic to ask for seperate states, but trying to achieve them at ANY cost, even if it meant permanant rivalry with another group of Indians is definitely harmful to India. This is exactly what was happening in USSR before it exploded in to 17 Pieces.
Just to point out that the Gorkhaland issue is the oldest issue in India at present. It started with the demand of separate administrative unit in 1907 during British Raj itself. Gorkhaland demand is in no way should be viewed as a 'separatist' movement because the demand is for the separate State within the Union of India and not complete 'secession' from India as has been projected by some of the pro-communist media groups of our country.
USA has seen the creation from States since its formation.The demand for newer States is an organic development and the maturation of Indian democracy rather than its decline.Also there are more advantages of smaller states in terms of governance and making India a participative democracy rather than nominative democracy. The demand for Gorkhaland has its root in the socio-economic decline of West Bengal under the CPIM governance
The Current Telangana movement is Perhaps the Largest Democratic Peoples Movement in India Post-1947. The Solutions SKC proposed are unethical and unjustifiable, for example the Reason it gave for Not Opting Option4 i.e Making Hyderabad a UT was that it would invite Backlash from people of Telangana not because it is unjustified. The Committee Basically Gave a Cold Cost-Benefit Analysis of Choosing Different Solutions like a hard-core Businessman. But democracy is DEMOCRACY is about people not economics.
The argument by Telangana people that the formation of Telangana does not need approval from people of the other two regions is completely biased. Oh..BTW I am from Telangana before people start branding me a Seemandhra agent. First of all I dont agree with the basic argument that Telangana was cheated over the decades. I dont know much about Andhra region, but Telangana is far, far better than Rayalaseema region in every aspect. Agreed its been cheated in some issues, especially water in my native Nalgonda, and under-representation in polictics. But that's mostly due to lack of unity, leadership and inefficiency of Telangana leaders. But after all these arguments, I still support a seperate Telangana, just because I respect Democracy and beleive peoples will has to be respected, even though it's for wrong reasons. And appeal to all Telanganites not to harbor ill will for other regions as its very harmfull for our mindset in the future. And also demanding the state to be seperated and asking the other regions to go thier own way in a month or two is illogical. If we really need Telangana, we should reach out to the other two regions, explain to them how we are emotionally attached to a seperate Telangana and give them opportunity to develop their own capital cities of equal stature to Hyderabad and help develop them as fast as we need Telangana. This is the only best option good for the country and for ourselves.
I disagree what both Das and Pillai mentioned above... reason President of India announced in Parliament about Telangana way back in 2004/5. It was in manifesto of Cong in 2004 and TDP in 2009. So it is not a slip of tongue from PC. When President of India's orders are not followed for more than 25 Years (G.O 610), how can anyone gaurantee the SKC option 6 will be a success? Proverty in Telangana is 16 times compared to that of African nations. Migration rate is highest in Mahbubnagar Dist of Telangana. Only a couple of days ago Telangana person was made AG of State for the first time since 1956... my request for all those who comment on this issue, please go through the history... 4 crore people ambition should not be insulted, if not honoured.
So long the political power and wealth does not percolate down to the weakest in our society, newer states are inevitable. There is a strong correlation between a state and a community's well being. It is within our Indian DNA, that we first care for ourselves and our family, then our relatives and friends, then our caste, then our region and religion. We are born unfair and prejudiced. The democracy in India does not benefit the communities who have little political clout. Even the postman in Darjeeling is from Bengal plains, as the minister is a Bengali. The states of Telangana and Gorkhaland are inevitable, no matter what Sri Krishna Committee says. What is wrong with having smaller states?
Kudos to your newspaper for your objectivity and consistency. Right from December 2009 you, very rightly, have been speaking about the increase in demands for smaller states if Telengana is announced. You have also argued for regional autonomy solution which is what SKC has recommended as the best option for the State. If only the central government paid heed to your very sage advice. It is unfortunate to see people attacking viciously the SKC members. Justice SriKrishna is known for his professionalism and unimpeachable integrity. The Telengana movement is losing its credibility by such wild and unsubstantiated criticism.
Telangana people are asking their legitimate right of former state (1953-1956)and nothing else.
The argument of many that the formation of Telangana state would give rise to other separate state demands is merely due to the sheer ignorance of the history of the formation of Andhra Pradesh state in 1956. The Telangana State formation should not be accounted as a new state; it was a conditional merger of Telangana region of Hyderabad State (1948-1956) and the Andhra State (1953-1956). The Gentlemen's Agreement (1956) and the Constitutional measures in the form of the amendment of Article 371 (1) of the Constitution, later on the Six-Point Formula (1973), and the introduction of Article 371D in the Constitution failed to protect the people and the region from being exploited and discriminated.
Why has not SKC discussed about reunion of Andhra with TN to form a united Madras state as it existed before 1950? If unity is the name of the game let us get back to pre 1950s. Still Hyderabad would exist as a separate state with the union of Andhra with TN to form a united Madras state. Has the govt taken opinion of Tamil people while separting Andhra? why did not SKC talk about that? SKC was corrupt as it can be made out from the numerous lapses in the report which seemed to be prepared hurriedly by doing Cut Copy paste from variety of reports submitted by Lanco owner Lagadapati. Govt should order high level inquiry into the corruption and scam of SKC.
That the Telangana agitation engendered a bad inspiration is abundantly clear now. It should be nipped now at any cost. Any measure to concede the demand for a separate State would open a Pandora's box. The echo is bound to spread to other regions also. Perhaps, the Union Home Minister, Mr. Chidambaram may be ruminating over his slip of the tongue sometime back that precipitated the Telangana issue and that brought the State to the present chaos.
This is the beginning of the federalization of the Indian Union. While more and more issues/subjects keep on getting transferred to the concurrent and the Union list from the state list,surprisingly still the regionalization fad is also on upsurge. These developments need to be seen in the ability and performance of efficient treatment of the state subjects. Accepting SriKrishna committee as a road-map for future, could augur as a serious disaster, as 'One solution fits all', could be a historical blunder. Equally disheartening is the loss to the state that has to be borne by these frequent bandhs. There is a very thin line segregating the peaceful protests and (currently rampant) violent destruction of state assets, or better described as abuse of democracy .There is an urgent need to bring this highly sensitive issue to the purview of the honourable judiciary as the ostensible efforts by the government have proved to be inadequate.
Congress is known for such hasty decisions. India is under worst ever rule it has ever faced. This is made possible by Congress-led UPA. What is the use of having most-qualified PM to the country. No significant impact by him. If i were him, PM post has lost its dignity. PM(Powerless minister)
UPA wants to give separate state where their party have majority. They want to increase their power by giving then what they want. Congress party is ruling in our country now because of their past record, because of Bapu, Nehru and many other leaders who give us freedom.
Rightly said,the movement which started as statehold is now a national issue,which has ignited fire in more than 12 places for separate states...Now UPA will think why they made that statement on Dec 9 2009...
Separate statehood should be discouraged.Rather national sentiment must be diverted to create social protection for every member of society.
The fact that the SK Committee's second best option came with strings attached in itself does not make it any more legitimate or more logical, or worthy of pursuit. It is ironic that the region that wants to separate is forced to get the acceptance of the other regions. This logic was never applied when Andhra was separated from erstwhile Madras state. In fact you would be hard pressed to find any similar situation in recent times anywhere over the world. The first best option in fact was tried and failed miserably for over five decades. It is beyond comprehension and anyone's guess why SKC thinks this approach will work this time around. It has not given any kind of reason to think otherwise. Telangana People are not ready to accept any kind of social engineering experiment of an elitist bureaucrat at this juncture. It has already lost over 700 young lives on the issue. The will of 40 million people must overrule elitist bureaucrats sitting in New Delhi. In a democracy veto power rests with the people and not Committee members appointed by the GOI. No one elected SKC members and they cannot speak for Telangana people. This approach does not take in to consideration the will of the majority of the people agitating. Suggesting this approach can be used as model in solving present or future problems is misguided at best.
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