The demand for a separate state of Telangana may be democratic but the manner in which the movement is turning out is far from being so. Normal life in many parts of Andhra Pradesh has been paralysed for more than a month. Offices, schools and colleges remain closed. One section of the student community in Telangana is facing the risk of losing its career. The common people are revolting against frequent bandh calls through the media.
With the resurgence of violence in Osmania University following self immolation by a student, it appears that extremists have hijacked the Telangana movement. The government must act to protect people’s rights and keep democracy vibrant in Andhra Pradesh.
V. Anantha Lakshmi,
Hyderabad
***
Of late, we find that there is a tendency by politicians to glorify suicides by innocent people. Unfortunately, some sections of the media, particularly the visual media, also play along glorifying and sensationalising the incidents creating panic. The politician-media nexus worked as a catalyst in triggering suicides immediately after Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s death in a chopper crash and, later, during the Telangana agitation. Our boys and girls should be made to understand that no personal or political wish can be achieved through suicides. Noble political goals can be achieved only through collective wisdom.
Myneni Sudheer,
Hyderabad
***
After a brief respite, the Telangana agitation is heating up again, thanks to politicians in Andhra Pradesh. The aim is to bring pressure on the Centre by resorting to bandhs, forcing the resignation of MLAs and other unconstitutional means. The Centre has made it clear, not once but twice, that the process of forming a separate State has started. It cannot be forced to evolve a time-frame. Bifurcating a State is no mean task. Various interests are involved. It is not enough to satisfy just one section.
P. Venkateswarlu,
Ganjam
***
Although the ordinary people of the State have been put to tremendous hardship in the wake of the Telangana movement, it is the student community that has been the worst hit. Politicians are trying to keep the agitation alive by calling for dharnas and bandhs on one pretext or the other. When the academic year is drawing to a close, any disturbance will have far-reaching consequences on the future of students. The government should enforce law and order strictly, especially on college campuses.
V.V.V. Satyanarayana,
Tanuku
