Seemandhra, ‘T’ leaders indulge in plain-speak

Seemandhra leaders asked to take people into confidence at least now and demand infrastructure for the region

The Legislative Council on Thursday witnessed some plain speaking by Telangana and Seemandhra members when they put a finger on the political opportunism indulged by all parties and now crying hoarse after the decision to divide the State was taken.

Mohammed Ali Shabbir (Cong.), participating in the debate on the draft A.P. State Reorganisation Bill, said all the Seemandhra leaders including Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy were aware of the Congress high command’s decision, agreed to it but misled their people as if division was not on the cards.

As Telangana State formation was imminent, Seemandhra members should take people into confidence at least now and demand funds and infrastructure for development of their region, he suggested. They could not continue to give false hopes to the people for their own political survival.

He said the Telangana Congress leaders would back the Seemandhra MLAs’ demand for adequate funds to the new capital and recalled that Hyderabad was a developed State since Nizam era and none should take credit for it.

Another contentious issue that was debated again on Thursday was Article 371 (D). Chengalrayudu (Cong.) termed the draft Bill unconstitutional as the Centre would have to first amend the 371 (D) for ensuring zonal system in education and employment in the two States. Otherwise, nativity would become an issue and Seemandhra students and youth would lose opportunities in education and employment available mostly in Hyderabad.

K. Nageswar (PDF) advised the Congress, TDP and YSR Congress, who had supported division earlier, to not attribute their lack of political clarity now to the Constitution and criticise its provisions. There was no relation between Article 3 and 371 (D) as evident in 50 years of jurisprudence.

Gangadhar Goud (TDP), welcoming the Bill, said Telangana people were now looking at creating their own State with social justice, free from domination of feudal classes. Refuting criticism against the TDP, he said the party gave its consent in 2008 itself and never changed its stand but demanded equal justice to Seemandhra.