There is no truth in the belief that soon after the violent agitations of 1969 and 1972, a feeling built up among the people of Telangana that they were being discriminated against in employment and education >(“New dawn for Telangana,” Aug. 1) . In fact, to develop this region, the State capital was shifted to Hyderabad from Kurnool after Andhra Pradesh came into existence. Today, the city of Hyderabad is internationally recognised. The industry is well established. The pass percentage in examinations from the Telangana region is as good as other regions of the State.
The reason the demand for Telangana became louder was: no leader from the region became Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh after 1992. The Telangana Rashtra Samiti was formed in 2001 under the leadership of K. Chandrashekhar Rao. The leaders supporting a Telangana State are looking at just their benefits. It will take decades to develop a capital like Hyderabad in the Seemandhra region.
M.C.S. Pavan Kumar,
Bangalore
The division of a State is not a solution to economic issues. Politicians are interested only in making political gains. They are encouraging the ‘sons of the soil’ slogan that mars national integrity. People’s demand for bifurcation in many States is understandable because for 66 years, governments have failed to deliver. Unemployment, poverty and food insecurity prevail everywhere. But political parties should educate their rank and file on how new States cannot be a panacea for these problems. Unfortunately, they are propagating just the opposite to make short-term gains.
V. Pankunni,
Palakkad
The government should develop a suitable capital for Seemandhra. The city should be made investor friendly. Tax holiday and other benefits should be allowed for investors from abroad and other States of India. Brand Hyderabad should not suffer. Steps should be taken to keep investment flowing there.
T. Parimel Azhagan,
Hyderabad
What prevented the Telangana region from progressing? The infrastructure needed for the region’s improvement could have been created in a united Andhra Pradesh. There is no State in which all districts have developed equally, economically or otherwise. If bifurcation is the only solution to regional disparities, India will have 56 States or more depending on the backwardness of a region and the vociferousness of its people.
A. Pandi Ravichandran,
Madurai
The resolution on creating a separate State of Telangana might have been unanimous in the UPA Coordination Committee and the CWC but the decision was not accepted unanimously by the people of Andhra Pradesh. The number of people unhappy (from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema) with the decision is more than the number of people happy with it. In view of this, people from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema have a right to know the different options evaluated by the Congress core committee before taking the “not-an-easy” decision. The Congress should also announce that it neither welcomes the merger of the TRS with it nor will seek a pre- or post-poll alliance with the party in the 2014 election. Else, Telangana will be seen as a deal with a quid pro quo clause.
Shankar Reddy,
Nutakki
The bifurcation of a State will be worthwhile if it improves the standard of people. Otherwise, it will benefit only the party that comes to power. It is the number of seats in the State Assemblies and Parliament that matters for politicians.
S. Sukumar,
Chennai
The formation of India’s 29th State is indeed a new dawn for the people who fought for its creation. However, the sudden decision taken by the Congress was political, with an eye on the coming Lok Sabha elections.
That it has triggered a clamour for the creation of new States from different parts of the country is disturbing.
S. Parvathy Madhavi,
Mavelikara
