The battle has begun in right earnest. The Seemandhra leaders of Congress and TDP want at least Hyderabad be made into a Union Territory or transfer of key subjects like law and order and revenue to the Centre. But any tampering with the status of Hyderabad is something no Telanganite is prepared to allow. The Telangana leaders in all parties want an unalloyed Telangana—comprising 10 districts with Hyderabad as its capital with no strings attached.
The MIM too has made it clear that if the state has to be divided, Hyderabad should be made the capital of the new states after clubbing Anantapur and Kurnool with it. The YSRC does not entertain any other proposal except keeping the state united. In case of transfer of key subjects to the Centre, no one in Telangana will keep quiet. TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao has warned of an all-out war in such situation.
Naidu, the ‘U’ Turn Man
Like the Congress, leaders of the TDP are also divided along regional lines on the status of Hyderabad. Caught in between his party leaders, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu is unable to take a clear stance on the status of Hyderbad. Exactly a day after the CWC decided to form T-state, the TDP chief urged the centre to develop a city at par with Hyderabad as the capital of residuary state of AP post bifurcation.
He even demanded the Centre to allocate Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh crore to develop a new capital. However, after eruption of massive agitation in Seemandhra against the proposed bifurcation of the State, Naidu has done a U-turn and started harping on the term “equal justice to all regions” while dividing AP.
United We Stand
YSR Congress, which is for united AP, wants the rights of people of Andhra and Rayalaseema regions over Hyderabad to be protected if bifurcation of the state is certain. The party leadership’s argument is that the city transformed into a large metropolis, only because it has happened to be the capital of united AP.
Thinking that it is their own place, people of Andhra and Rayalaseema never objected to the efforts of the successive governments to set up various public sector units in and around Hyderabad. Jagan also came down heavily on the AICC leadership for dividing the state, “this is detrimental to the interests of the people of Seemandhra over Hyderabad”.
The Balancing Act
BJP has agreed on a proposal for Hyderabad functioning as an interim capital for a reasonable time after bifurcation of AP, but opposed any move to make it a joint capital for a prolonged period. Party president G Kishan Reddy said his party wants T-state to be formed with its existing 10 districts and Hyderabad as its permanent capital.
The party rejected the proposal to make Hyderabad a Union Territory and permanent joint capital of both the proposed states. After meeting the GoM in Delhi, Kishan Reddy said that his party was committed to creation of Telangana as Hyderabad its permanent capital and demanded that the Telangana bill be introduced during the upcoming winter session of Parliament with the same provisions.
The Congress Cacophony
Congress leaders on either side of the divide are crossing swords with each other on the status of Hyderabad. Seemandhra Congress leaders including CM Kiran Kumar Reddy want the metropolis to be made a Union Territory. Stating that 80 per cent of the people from Seemandhra living in Hyderabad were born after the formation of AP.
Meanwhile, state Chief Secretary P K Mohanty recently sent a report to the Group of Ministers looking after the state’s bifurcation, it suggested bringing Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority limits in the state capital under Delhi-like Union Territory. Worried over the moves of their counterparts, a huge contingent of T-Congress lawmakers headed by Union minister S Jaipal Reddy on Friday undertook a three-day trip to Delhi to thwart their efforts.
No Compromise on Hyderabad
Telangana Rashtra Samithi wants Telangana state comprising 10 districts with Hyderabad as permanent capital, with no strings attached. The party opposes any move to transfer subjects including law and order to the Centre in administration of Hyderabad. TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao said his party would not keep quiet if the Centre curtailed any powers of the Telangana government.
“Transfer of law and order in Hyderabad to the Centre is unheard of and no such restrictions were enforced in 28 states that have so far been formed in the country. If the law and order is transferred to the Centre, there would be an all out war,” he said. During the all-party meeting, held on Nov 12, the TRS told the Group of Ministers, “The overall policing of Telangana, including Hyderabad, must remain with the new state.”
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