Brushing aside opposition after dithering for nearly four years, the Congress and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition on Tuesday unanimously endorsed creation of a separate Telangana state from out of Andhra Pradesh.
"It is resolved to request the Central government to make steps in accordance with the Constitution to form a separate state of Telangana ......within a definite timeframe," said a resolution of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the highest policy-making body of the party, after over an hour-long meeting.
"It is resolved to request the Central government to make steps in accordance with the Constitution to form a separate state of Telangana ......within a definite timeframe," said a resolution of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the highest policy-making body of the party, after over an hour-long meeting.
The Congress also decided to recommend to the government that Hyderabad be made the joint capital of the newly-proposed state and the other regions--Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra--for a period of 10 years.
| Congress virtually rules out carving out more states Amid demands for creation of several smaller states in the backdrop of decision on separate Telangana, Congress on Tuesday virtually ruled out such possibilities. "States are not formed just on the basis of agitations. There has to be a study of historical background," AICC General Secretary in charge of Andhra Pradesh Digvijaya Singh said when asked about demands for separate states from various parts of the country, including that of Gorkhaland, Bundelkhand, Purvanchal and Harit Pradesh. He dismissed suggestions that the decision on Telangana has been taken out of political expediency or compulsion and it was a long standing demand of the people who had also complained of several violations of the 'gentleman's agreement'. Besides, the region had witnessed a large number of suicides over the issue. Singh insisted that the issue of Telangana cannot be compared to others because there has been historical background as it has reference in the recommendations of the first State Reorganisation Commission (SRC), which is still relevant. He said that there was also a reference to Vidarbha in the first SRC report. On the question of Article 371 (D) of Constitution which grants special status, he said the Cabinet will look into its relevance once Telangana is formed. At the same time, he said in reply to a question that the resolution of CWC in 2001 for formation of second SRC still stands. |
The momentous decisions by the CWC and the UPA came after hectic consultations for the last over a week on creation of the 29th state of the country that will have a geographical area of 10 of the 23 districts of undivided Andhra Pradesh.
Tuesday's decision also brings to fruition the announcement made by the then Home Minister P Chidambaram on December 9, 2009 for creation of Telangana.
Contrary to speculation that the new state could be named Rayala Telangana, including a couple of districts of Rayalaseema, the districts that will be part of the new state will be Adilabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Mahaboobnagar, Medak, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Rangareddy and Warangal besides Hyderabad.
At the moment the idea is to have 10 districts in Telangana but it will be for the Group of Ministers to consider demands for inclusion of more areas, All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Digvijaya Singh, in-charge of Andhra Pradesh affairs in Congress, told a press conference after the CWC meeting.
Out of 42 Lok Sabha, the lower house of the parliament seats and 294 Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana is likely to have 17 Lok Sabha seats and 119 Assembly seats.
Tuesday's decision also brings to fruition the announcement made by the then Home Minister P Chidambaram on December 9, 2009 for creation of Telangana.
Contrary to speculation that the new state could be named Rayala Telangana, including a couple of districts of Rayalaseema, the districts that will be part of the new state will be Adilabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Mahaboobnagar, Medak, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Rangareddy and Warangal besides Hyderabad.
At the moment the idea is to have 10 districts in Telangana but it will be for the Group of Ministers to consider demands for inclusion of more areas, All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Digvijaya Singh, in-charge of Andhra Pradesh affairs in Congress, told a press conference after the CWC meeting.
Out of 42 Lok Sabha, the lower house of the parliament seats and 294 Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana is likely to have 17 Lok Sabha seats and 119 Assembly seats.
At the CWC meeting, the Prime Minister said the decision to create a separate Telangana would help entire Andhra region.
Sonia Gandhi, who is also the UPA chairperson, gave a historical perspective on the issue to the CWC meeting in which Digvijaya Singh moved the resolution. It was adopted unanimously.
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Like last weekend, when indications emerged that the Congress was veering towards the formation of Telangana, ministers and parliamentarians belonging to the non-Telangana regions made last ditch efforts to convince Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to have a rethink on the issue.
Like last weekend, when indications emerged that the Congress was veering towards the formation of Telangana, ministers and parliamentarians belonging to the non-Telangana regions made last ditch efforts to convince Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to have a rethink on the issue.
Andhra state, the first entity formed on linguistic basis, was created in 1953 from out of the erstwhile Madras Presidency with Kurnool as the capital. With the passing of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, there was a merger of Hyderabad state and Andhra state to be called Andhra Pradesh from November 1, 1956. Andhra Pradesh now has a population of over 8.5 crore.
The 2009 announcement, taken at the height of an indefinite fast by Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) leader K Chandrashekhar Rao, had ignited street protests in the non-Telangana regions and opposition from ministers, MLAs and leaders from within the party that forced the central government and the Congress leadership to put the issue on hold.
The Centre held rounds of meetings with all parties from the state and set up a Commission under the chairmanship for Supreme Court Judge Justice B.N Srikrishna, which had given a report suggesting various solutions.
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Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, who was opposed to the division of Andhra Pradesh and was said to be thinking in terms of resigning, was called for consultations. He attended the UPA meeting.
Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, who was opposed to the division of Andhra Pradesh and was said to be thinking in terms of resigning, was called for consultations. He attended the UPA meeting.
However, he dismissed reports of resignation as "rumours". Similarly, Congress ministers in the Union government and the MPs gave enough indications that they would follow the party line.
Replying to a volley of questions on sharing of resources between the two states, Digvijaya Singh said the Group of Ministers to be set up on the subject will go into sharing of land, water, revenue and assets and liabilities between Andhra and Telangana.
| Mixed reaction from non-Cong parties to Telangana Other parties gave mixed reactions with BJP claiming it would have formed the state during NDA rule but for opposition from a key ally while the Left cautioned that this may spur more such demands. - Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) president K Chandrasekhar Rao, spearheading the agitation for the separate state since long, welcomed the Congress Working Committee decision to form a separate Telangana state. - Senior BJP leader L K Advani said "as far as we are concerned, our party is concerned, if Telangana was not formed when we had formed three new states it was only because of our respecting one of our coalition partners. Otherwise we would have done it even then". - CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat said statehood for Telangana will spur such demands in other parts of the country. "The central government will have to take the responsibility to see that there is no further division of states whether it is West Bengal or anywhere else," he said.  -D Raja (CPI), termed the decision as "too late" and said his party had agreed to a separate Telangana "after indepth discussion and considering and exhausting all options". "All regions of Andhra Pradesh should take this decision in a brotherly manner without any hostility or bitterness," he said. - Shiv Sena reacted sharply to the decision. "We regret the decision to divide Andhra Pradesh. We are for a united Maharashtra (an apparent reference to demand for Vidarbha state) and there is no question of any decision," Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut said. - LJP leader Ramvilas Paswan expressed the hope that the government will also create states like Bundelkhand, Vidarbha and Purvanchal. "LJP is in favour of smaller states," he said. Several students' bodies and other pro-united Andhra Pradesh outfits called a bandh in towns like Kadapa, Visakhapatnam and Tirupati. Congress MLAs from Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh would meet today to discuss their future course of action in the wake of UPA favouring the formation of separate Telangana. "Yes, Congress MLAs from Rayalaseema (are meeting)," state Minor Irrigation Minister T G Venkatesh said, before Congress announced its decision in Delhi. Responding to a query, he said all issues, including that of whether the leaders from Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra would quit from the assembly on Telangana issue, would be discussed on Wednesday. A report from Kadapa said Congress MLA from Jammalamadugu C Adinarayana Reddy said he would resign from the House as well as party. The united Andhra JAC's convener in Kadapa district S Ramachandra Reddy has begun an indefinite fast against the decision. AP Congress spokesman and chairman of the 20-point programme N Tulasi Reddy has also quit his post in Kadapa, while main opposition TDP's chief whip D Narendra said the decision was taken with only for "votes and seats" as the criteria. Senior TDP leader Y Ramakrishnudu said the process of division of assets should be proper and that his party would stand by the people of the three regions. Congress MLA J C Diwakar Reddy, who hails from Rayalaseema, said he felt pained over the issue. |
While maintaining that it was a "difficult" decision, Singh rejected suggestions that the decision was aimed at reaping electoral benefits saying "political expediency cannot be a reason for such a far reaching decision."
Explaining the reason for the decision, the Congress general secretary said it had a historical background and states are not formed merely on the basis of agitations.
He rejected suggestions that the decision to carve out Telangana was based on political compulsions. "It is a long standing demand...it has nothing to do with elections," he said.
He said the Centre will urge the Andhra Pradesh assembly to adopt a resolution on creation of Telangana. The Assembly will have to accept or reject the resolution, Singh said adding, however, that either way it will not be binding on the government of India.
Referring to the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), Singh said its chief K Chandrashekar Rao had maintained that it will merge with Congress once Telangana is created.
To questions about opposition within the Congress to Telangana, Digvijaya Singh asserted "Congress party stands solidly behind the decision taken at the AICC."
Giving an overview about the procedures for formation of the new state, he said legal mechanisms would be worked out so that both states can function effectively.
He said the name of the new state will be Telangana and the new capital for Andhra will be identified from Seema Andhra region.
The Centre will assist both the states in maintaining safety and identify specific needs of backward regions, he said.
Asked whether two districts of Rayalaseema region will be included in the new state, the Congress General Secretary said as of now the decision is for including 10 districts. As and when demands are put up for any other region, those will be considered by the GoM.
He also rejected suggestions that the decision was linked to upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Seeking to paint the BJP as anti-Telangana, Digvijay Singh said the demand for creation of the separate state had been rejected by former National Democratic Alliance government in 2002 when L K Advani was the Home Minister.
He said the former Congress Chief Minister late YSR Reddy, who as Leader of Opposition in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, had then sent a petition to President seeking Telangana.
What India's 29th state Telangana looks like:
Telangana will be the 29th state of India comprising 10 districts with plenty of water and some other natural resources in a backward region lacking development that was at the heart of the separate state demand.
As and when the state is formed, the jewel in the crown will always be the city of Hyderabad, which may for some time, at least 10 years to start with, be the joint capital for the rest of Andhra.
With a population of over 3.5 crore, the new state comprising mostly the areas of the princel Nizam state will have 17 Lok Sabha seats and 119 Assembly seats.
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When it joins the Indian Union, people of the region would hope that the new identity would help them overcome the challenges of poverty and backwardness which were at the roots of the separate state movement.
When it joins the Indian Union, people of the region would hope that the new identity would help them overcome the challenges of poverty and backwardness which were at the roots of the separate state movement.
The demand for a separate identity for Telangana is virtually as old as the state of Andhra Pradesh, which came into existence in November 1956 through the States Reorganisation Act.
The Andhra Pradesh government website says: "Telangana agitation was started by the people of the region when they felt that Andhra leaders had flouted the Gentlemen's Agreement which facilitated the formation of Andhra Pradesh.
The Andhra Pradesh government website says: "Telangana agitation was started by the people of the region when they felt that Andhra leaders had flouted the Gentlemen's Agreement which facilitated the formation of Andhra Pradesh.
"In the beginning, the movement demanded the implementation of the safeguards agreed upon earlier, but later it wanted the separation of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh."
That the seat of government in Hyderabad has persistently ignored the needs of Telangana at the expense of the other regions of the state has been a constant grouse of the advocates of separate statehood.
The new Telangana state would comprise the 10 districts of Hyderabad, Medak, Adilabad, Khammam, Karimnagar, Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Rangareddy and Warangal.
The new Telangana state would comprise the 10 districts of Hyderabad, Medak, Adilabad, Khammam, Karimnagar, Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Rangareddy and Warangal.
Now, according to the Backward Regions Grant Fund 200910, 13 districts in Andhra Pradesh have been identied as being backward, of which nine are in Telangana.
| Telangana decision undemocratic and anti-people: YSR Congress Two former MLAs, Jaleel Khan and Adusumilli Jaya Prakash of the YSR Congress Party alleged the decision is "the conspiracy of a foreigner to divide and rule the people of this nation". The people of coastal Andhra Pradesh have not accepted the "unilateral decion" by Congress, they claimed. Alleging that union ministers, MPs and ministers from Andhra Pradesh "sold out" and lost their individuality, adding Congress leaders were responsible for what they termed a "tragic" decision. They demanded people's representatives of Congress should resign or else the people would teach them a lesson. They announced the YSR Congress Party would begin a mass movement against the decision on Telangana. |
As proponents of a separate Telangana claim, the carving out of a new state would give a fresh impetus for the people of the region to aspire for growth and development.
Especially with the inclusion of Hyderabad, Telangana would find itself in control of one of the primary centres of India's tech story.
Offices of major national and international corporates houses are present in Hyderabad, drawing people from across the country to the city.
Needless to say it is the loss of Hyderabad which would rankle most with 'Unified Andhra' supporters.
But the people of Telangana argue that the seat of the Nizams was always an integral part of their region.
The Telangana agitation, as they point out, was started by the people of the region who complained that "Andhra" leaders had flouted the "Gentlemen's Agreement" which had facilitated the formation of the state, in November 1956.
The feeling of betrayal was also implicit in the discontent, which spread among Telangana officials and the unemployed youth of the region, who felt they were being exploited by the people from the rest of the state who had flocked to the new capital.
'Rights of settlers from Andhra, Rayala areas to be protected'
Constitutional rights of settlers from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions including the right to life and property will be safeguarded in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Damodara Raja Narasimha said today.
Constitutional rights of settlers from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions including the right to life and property will be safeguarded in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Damodara Raja Narasimha said today.
"People from Andhra and Rayala regions who have settled in Hyderabad are part of the Telangana culture. Their right to life and property will be protected," he told a press conference after the UPA and CWC formally endorsed Telangana.
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