At the stroke of midnight on June 2, when parts of the nation were asleep while others were still awake revelling in the victory of Kings XI Punjab, a new State finally took shape (June 2).
Indians haven’t seen the birth of a new State in a while, the last exercise being in 2000 which resulted in the creation of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and (Uttaranchal) Uttarakhand. For children who have received secondary education in this period, they learnt the magic number of 35 in civics class — 28 States+ 7 Union Territories. However, there is more to this division than a curriculum content change. It has more to do with the state of Centre-State relations and the weak nature of federalism in India.
If in 2000 the bifurcation of States was largely for purposes of administrative simplification, this newest division has more to do with regional animosity. Let us hope this is the last such division; Indians need to be one and sink their differences.
Shikhar Mani Tripathi,New Delhi
One can only heave a sigh of relief that a long and fierce agitation has come to an end. It is now time for the people of Telangana to work hard and in tandem with Andhra Pradesh to promote growth. Political stability with a far-sighted approach is the key factor to help the new State grow.
Navin Kumar,Hazaribagh, Jharkhand
One is of the opinion that a development plan for the so-called backward regions would have been much better than a bifurcation. The TRS’ objections to the presence of Andhra employees and the cropping up of the issue of “jobs for locals”, are sad developments. One hopes that the issue between the States is settled amicably.
F.A. Sulthanbi,Madurai
Telangana may be the 29th State but it is the result of prolonged agitations by political leaders whose sacrifices should not be ignored. Many families lost their breadwinners. One hopes that jobs in ministerial sections and local administrative bodies are allocated to their dependants. That will be an apt gesture.
S. Rajagopal,Hyderabad
Telangana is a reality. But there are still many challenges that face the governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The governments of both States must now work together. Development is usually the main issue behind movements for a separate State. Issues like water and power must be sorted out as well. This is a chance to put into practice new ideas. Let’s hope for a better future of both States.
K Chandra Shekar Rao swearing-in, by bearing allegiance to constitution, brought in his family members into cabinet forgetting the very nepotism responsible for bifurcation to an extent. By ignoring the hard realities of a huge chunk of Schedule Tribes population and ignoring them to be represented in Ministry's allocation proportionately, he is heralding the same disregard which persisted till the bifurcation. Women who nearly conform to nearly 50% of population failed to even get a single Ministry initially and hence failed in sending out a positive signal and recognition of vote for change and prosperity. By ignoring weaker sections, the exploited populations and holding on to the very nepotism in allocations, KCR as a protagonist for change and renewed mantra of development has considerable failed in communicating the vibrancy of struggle to governance even though such tokenism has its limitations in empowerment. As a first step there was need for consideration if not accommodation, having scored low on it, lets hope the peoples wishes and their aspirations are fulfilled through their pressure on the new establishment.
The leaders of the TRS must understand that terms such as “war rooms” have a military connotation, as when top military leaders meet, review the situation on the field and make vital decisions. Such hostile talk and acrimonious ideas have no place in a plural democracy and in development.
M.M. Kale,Kakinada
Perhaps the division would have been less painful had it been done four decades earlier. But hindsight is a wonderful thing. My grievance is not with the movement for a separate Telangana but with the manner in which the division was carried out with utter disregard for the feelings of the people from both regions. This has undeniably and irreversibly damaged the fraternal bond that the people of the two regions shared. One would have been genuinely happy had the division of the State been in response to and in recognition of the people’s movement for a separate State and not the result of a dangerous political game in which people’s feelings and lives were wagered away with impunity. This is a critical time for both States and it is imperative that our political leaders set aside their personal and selfish ambitions for a few years and do the job that they were elected for — lead.
Pushyam Kiran,Hyderabad
The TRS has completely forgotten that it was Congress president Sonia Gandhi who made Telangana possible. Let us give due importance and respect to her, even though her party lost in Telangana due to sentimental reasons.
C. Narsingu,Adilabad
