The Union Cabinet’s nod for the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and creation of a separate State of Telangana, amid widespread protests from the people of Seemandhra, is shocking. Although India calls itself a democracy, the UPA government has not taken into account the views of huge sections even though they have been agitating for over 60 days. Even the media has not taken notice. Is it because the agitation has been peaceful? Are Gandhian principles no longer valid?
Without giving any clarifications on river water usage, projects, capital, etc., how could the UPA government announce the bifurcation? And what is the Antony Committee for?
Gouthami Reddy,Hyderabad
The UPA government has cleared the creation of a separate Telangana State without making any attempt to allay the fears of the people of Seemandhra who have been agitating for 65 days. Is this democracy — where the interest of politicians is nothing more than winning seats; all the electronic media does is report the tussle between the ruling party and the principal opposition; and the ruling party ignores a huge section while taking a decision?
K. Vijayaraghavan,Hyderabad
The Cabinet has done well to give its seal of approval to the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. One hopes the UPA government will be equally firm in allaying the apprehensions of people belonging to the Rayalaseema region.
Political calculations deciding the fate of a State is preposterous, especially when scores of people are pouring on to the streets demanding that the government listen to them. A responsible leader should at least call their representatives for talks.
Lakshmi Swathi Gandham,Guntur
The Centre has not paid attention to the unprecedented, peaceful agitation by the people of the Andhra and Rayalaseema regions. This only proves that peaceful protests have no impact.
C.V. Sastry,Yanam
Our worst fears have come true. The phrase “residuary State” pierced my heart. People on either side of the Telangana divide are fully aware that UPA II went ahead with its plan of bifurcating South India’s largest State only to re-capture power at the Centre in 2014, and certainly not out of love for the people of Telangana. What puzzles me is the ease with which the Cabinet divided the State, like cutting a birthday cake, without weighing the pros and cons of such a drastic decision or allaying the apprehensions of the people of Rayalaseema and Andhra regions. That the Antony Committee was created only to fool people is now amply clear.
B.V. Kumar,Nellore
The delivery of Telangana is premature, as the Centre has failed to realise that the three regions of Andhra Pradesh are not ripe for division. While regional imbalances and lopsided development are a reality, a well developed region like Telangana should not be made a separate State, leaving behind the most backward and perennially drought-hit districts of Rayalaseema.
Joshua Poldoss,Coimbatore
The UPA government deserves to be lauded for taking a bold decision despite resistance from the people of Seemandhra. The people of Andhra and Rayalaseema should accept the new State. Just as Hyderabad has been developed, the Andhra region will also progress in the years to come. Telugu-speaking people can show the rest of the country that despite being divided into different States, people can mingle with one another and work together.
Syed Nissar,Hyderabad
