The UPA government's hasty announcement to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh, without doing the necessary homework, opened a Pandora's Box which forced the Centre to appoint a committee to resolve the Telangana issue. As the editorial "The way forward on Telangana" (Feb. 16) points out, the Srikrishna Committee needs the time and the space to do its job. It is the responsibility of all stakeholders to create a cooperative environment to enable the committee to examine the issue objectively.
R. Gopinathan, Thiruvananthapuram
The Srikrishna Committee's terms of reference look fine to those who are oblivious to the travails of the people of the Telangana region. All their efforts to get what is rightfully theirs and what was promised were obstructed by the people of the rest of Andhra Pradesh. The Centre has once again succumbed to the lobbying by leaders of coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema. The terms of reference, which include seeking a range of solutions and identifying the optimal solutions, clearly indicate which way the Committee is heading.
M. Madhavacharya, Hyderabad
When students jumped into the fray, they made the Telangana movement stronger and showed what student power is. But with a concrete solution to the issue not likely to emerge for several months, there is growing concern over students losing an academic year due to the prolonged agitation. Besides political leaders, university and college teachers, government employees, parents and the people should appeal to the students to return to their classes leaving further action to the elected representatives.
M.A. Hakeem, Hyderabad
The editorial has rightly advised all stakeholders to wait till the Srikrishna Committee submits its report. The recent developments such as the resignation of MLAs and the emergence of students at the forefront of the agitation at the expense of their studies are disturbing. Some unemployed politicians seem to be using muscle and money power to finance the agitation to meet their selfish aims. It is time to review whether the present system of universal adult franchise and democracy with unlimited freedom of expression - without regard to the unity and prosperity of the nation - is good for us.
Naveen Luther, Hyderabad
The resignation of 12 Telangana MLAs is unfortunate. In order to promote a sectional interest, they are making attempts to pressure public opinion. MLAs and MPs are expected to address people's issues in the legislature. En masse resignations undermine the normal functioning of elected governments. How can a person who shirks his constitutional duty uphold high standards of public morality?
M. Satya Narayana Rao, Warangal
