A new State took partial birth in “darkness.” Though a technical glitch has been put out as the reason for Lok Sabha TV going blank during the proceedings on the Telangana Bill, one can only suspect ulterior political motives. What was most intriguing was the haste and urgency in getting the Bill cleared without adhering to even basic parliamentary norms of a healthy and meaningful debate. It speaks volumes of the political expediency of the Congress as well as the BJP in playing to the gallery.
Finally, the arrival of two Telugu States on the country’s map is welcome. The electoral battle in A.P. should now be on the plank of their development and progress.
V. Sriharsha,
New Delhi
Although the bifurcation might be an emotive issue for the Seemandhra region, people there must now move ahead in the best interests of the nation. Excessive emotions based on language will only increase regionalism and hamper our unity and integrity.
Roshan U. Alam,
New Delhi
Much of the resentment in the region is on account of the contradictory stands taken by the political parties concerned at different periods; and then they used it to their political advantage. This is the right time to promote an amicable environment and a congenial atmosphere in both regions as far as the sharing of water, electricity and other natural resources is concerned.
Ponnala Narahari,
Hyderabad
Our Constitution empowers the Centre to reorganise States with or without the consent of the State/States but only when the basic aim is to ensure an efficient administration. What has emerged later, and dangerously so, is the trend of creeping regionalism. The formation of Telangana seems to have been done with an eye on the general election and to split vote banks. It is this sort of a populist decision that must be condemned.
Prafulla K. Rai,
Azamgarh, U.P.
If the Congress wanted to divide the State solely for the betterment of people, it should and would have initiated the process years ago when it held complete power at the Centre and in the State. What has happened now is that as it realises that its electoral fortunes are on the wane, it wants to split a whole block of seats that normally would have gone to it on a platter.
Vamsee,
Kadapa
The virtual blacking out of the proceedings was unjustifiable. Does this mean that whenever important Bills are under consideration one can expect similar “technical glitches”?
Kushagra Gupta,
Indore
The proceedings of the 15th Lok Sabha could not have sunk to any lower a level. After scenes of Bills being torn, a pepper spray attack and much worse, the last nail in its coffin was the mysterious blanking out of proceedings that were being telecast live. Yet, updates were available on blogs and websites. It is our right to know what stand was expressed by each MP. The proceedings were not top secret.
K.B. Dessai,
Margao
The ruling party, joined by the principal Opposition party, has played a wicked role in dividing Andhra Pradesh with a vengeance. If the Congress is wedded to scams, the BJP is determined to divide the nation into a hundred states. Both are dangerous to India’s socio-economic fabric. It is time the people thought of a clean third alternative to govern this country in a democratic way.
M.C. Das,
Vijayawada
It was a terrible day for Andhra Pradesh. When insignificant issues take up days of discussion in Parliament, how can as important an issue as the bifurcation of a State be approved after a less-than-90 minute discussion? What sort of a democracy are we in? The Speaker, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition have together played a role in hoodwinking the people. One only hopes the Supreme Court intervenes in the matter. The people of the Seemandhra area are deeply distressed and the Congress will face their wrath at election time.
T.V. Nageswara Rao,
Visakhapatnam
