The following article was written for Niti Central. Pasting it here for reference:
As we enter day-4 of the unrest in AP (and other parts of the country too), the situation does not show any sign of improvement. Buses are off-streets, shops are closed, colleges remain shut- in essence, people are suffering. Unfortunately, violent incidents are also on the rise. If anything, there are only signs of deterioration because of confusion being compounded by what some leaders are speaking and by the Department of Leaks in the Congress.
Before we get into the details, let’s do a quick recap on the resignation saga currently being played out.
The resignations saga
The saga of resignations is still continuing. More and more MLAs and MPs are tending their resignations in wake of the formation of Telangana. The number is volatile and changes by the hour. However, the biggest story on Friday was how the four Union Ministers, who had tendered their resignations, backtracked following ‘suggestions’ from Digvijay Singh. Diggy apparently told them to stay put so that they make their voice heard strongly when Parliament discusses the Bill. The Ministers have therefore, postponed their resignations with Diggy for now it seems! Which brings into focus the nature of their resignations? If they resigned as Ministers, the resignations need to go to the Prime Minister.
The saga of resignations is still continuing. More and more MLAs and MPs are tending their resignations in wake of the formation of Telangana. The number is volatile and changes by the hour. However, the biggest story on Friday was how the four Union Ministers, who had tendered their resignations, backtracked following ‘suggestions’ from Digvijay Singh. Diggy apparently told them to stay put so that they make their voice heard strongly when Parliament discusses the Bill. The Ministers have therefore, postponed their resignations with Diggy for now it seems! Which brings into focus the nature of their resignations? If they resigned as Ministers, the resignations need to go to the Prime Minister.
If they resigned as MPs, resignations need to go to the Speaker. And if they resigned from the Congress, resignations need to go to Sonia Gandhi. But we are now witness to this weird scenario! The Department of Leaks continues it’s charade. Today’s The Hindu had a front page story titled - AICC had struck a ‘secret deal’ on Rayala-Telangana.
Sources explain the nitty-gritties about the thought process behind orchestrating such a ‘deal’. The report further reveals that the ‘Department of Leaks’ in the Congress is anything but a shutdown. The report also exposes the blatant hypocrisy in the thinking of the Congress – amidst such unrest in the State, it is unfathomable to think why ‘sources’ would continue to compound the confusion.
The leaders speaketh
1. K Chandra Shekhar Rao (KCR): Merely two days after saying that “I will personally ensure the safety of all Seemandhra people in Hyderabad”, the president of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) spoke at a meeting of the Government employees on Friday. In this, he has categorically said that all the Andhra employees have ‘no option’ but to go back. He said that they have to go back because the new Government in Andhra Pradesh will need their help. This has set off a chain of reactions, with the non-gazetted officers association of the AP Government announcing an immediate strike to protest his utterances. Most TV debates this morning have focussed their discussions on this statement, with there being an all round condemnation. KCR further clarifies that he never said: “Telangana walo jaago, Andhrawala bhaago“. He was only referring to those Andhrawalas who obtained illegal Government jobs in Telangana!
1. K Chandra Shekhar Rao (KCR): Merely two days after saying that “I will personally ensure the safety of all Seemandhra people in Hyderabad”, the president of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) spoke at a meeting of the Government employees on Friday. In this, he has categorically said that all the Andhra employees have ‘no option’ but to go back. He said that they have to go back because the new Government in Andhra Pradesh will need their help. This has set off a chain of reactions, with the non-gazetted officers association of the AP Government announcing an immediate strike to protest his utterances. Most TV debates this morning have focussed their discussions on this statement, with there being an all round condemnation. KCR further clarifies that he never said: “Telangana walo jaago, Andhrawala bhaago“. He was only referring to those Andhrawalas who obtained illegal Government jobs in Telangana!
Such a loaded clarification is obviously not cutting any ice with the protesters – for starters, how come there are so any illegal Government jobs?! The State Government employees in the Secretariat have taken out rallies in the lunch break in the past two days, requesting the Congress for more clarity on this exact same fear that they have – Will they be allowed to even stay in Hyderabad, where they have built their families and homes? As always, the bigwigs of the party and the Government have not given any clarity on this.
Some are arguing that KCR’s utterances need not be given so much importance. Many disagree – because, here is the man whose party will merge with the Congress and share power once the State is formed, and here are his utterances, which are anything but soothing.
2. K Chiranjeevi: A very strong proponent of an united AP before joining the Congress, he has announced that he will bow down to the decision of the high command, whatever it is. True to his word, he has not overtly raised a banner of revolt. Nor did he offer to resign, despite public clamour back home for it. And on Friday evening, he added some fuel to the fire. He suggested two things: One is to make Hyderabad the second capital of India (yes, you are reading it right!) and the other is to make it the permanent common capital of both the States. Nothing further needs to be elaborated on how this suggestion was recieved!
3. Digvijay Singh: First, there is a very strong point being made in the TV studios and on the streets. Who exactly is Digvijay Singh to speak to the people of AP? Who is Digvijay Singh to guide the division process of the State? Why is a mere Congress functionary being given so much importance? Answers that the ruling party obviously does not have. Digvijay Singh told reporters that the Centre will help in building a better capital than Hyderabad! We don’t even know where to begin with, to counter this argument! Just how is it possible to build a better capital in such a short span?
Folks on TV have started reeling out statistics to counter this bunk by Diggy – and hence the questions on what exactly is his position to command such authority!
4. The CM of AP: Ha! He hasn’t spoken yet. It has been 85 hours (at the time of writing this piece) since the CWC resolution was passed. He has not found the need to communicate with his people! All we hear is that he is meeting Ministers and discussing the fallout. Amidst all this, he has not forgotten to host a Iftar on Friday evening. The State Government’s Iftar party went according to the plan, with all dignitaries attending it!
Some folks placed in advertisement in a local edition of a newspaper, saying that the AP CM is missing! (picture courtesy – @Ravi_TG )
The icing on the cake is that the Congress leaders are blaming the TDP and BJP for the decision that their madam took. So much for party loyalty!
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