Give and take
''In a democracy, one group can’t dictate.''
Andhra Pradesh is floundering in fresh political turbulence and unrest with the Telengana statehood issue assuming centre-stage again. Of the 119 MLAs from Telengana in the 294-seat state Assembly, 99 MLAs from across the political spectrum have resigned.
A dozen MPs too have put in their papers. Reports that the Centre is thinking of announcing its decision sometime this month appears to have prompted parties and politicians to up the ante on the issue. Besides the rash of resignations, a bundh was observed in the Telengana region and an agitation to press for statehood for Telengana has been set in motion.
The Centre is reportedly considering setting up a Telengana Regional Council, with adequate constitutional safeguards for a two-year period. If this fails to resolve the problems confronting Telengana, statehood would then be considered. The justice Srikrishna committee had recommended this as the best of the six options it listed in its report earlier this year.
Since the government is likely to decide in favour of autonomy rather than statehood, pro-Telengana activists and politicians are cut up. Their resignations and hunger strikes are aimed at pressuring the Centre to decide in favour of statehood.
Being committed to a cause is one thing, being rigid is another. Sadly, it is the latter that defines the approach of parties like the Telengana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). Its president K Chandrasekhar Rao has warned that if the demand for statehood is not conceded ‘the consequences will be disastrous.’ His threats are ugly, indicating an undemocratic outlook.
He must understand that in a democracy, demands of one group alone cannot be met. Some give and take is necessary. Autonomy could improve the lives of people in the Telengana region. He should give this a shot, instead of arbitrarily shooting down any solution that is short of statehood.
The UPA government too has handled the Telengana issue poorly. Ministers promised statehood, raising expectations in the Telengana region. Their U-turn has triggered frustration and violence. The government has repeatedly deferred making a decision.
Allowing tempers to cool before taking important decisions is understandable but interminable stonewalling, which has been the approach of successive governments to the Telengana problem, has not helped. In anticipation of violence, the government has rightly deployed more police. But the agitation is not a law and order problem alone.
There are political issues and demands that need to be addressed. The government must break its silence.
