pro. k nageshweer artical

CONGRESS POLITICS AND TELANGANA – Prof. K.Nageshwar


Thanks to the Hunger strike of K.Chandrashekhar Rao ,  the long pending issue of separate statehood for Telangana is once again rocking the politics. It has attracted the national attention.  The central leadership of Congress is grappling with the problem. In this entire episode, it is once again the congress party that has been displaying its worst political opportunism. This is nothing new for the congress. Historically, congress is known for dodging sensitive issues with an objective of reaping the maximum political mileage out of every emotional issue. It was the Congress government headed by Rajiv Gandhi that unlocked the controversial Ram Janma Bhoomi complex paving away for a most emotional polarization in the history of contemporary Indian politics. Playing with the fire has been the policy of successive congress governments on all the key issues that have sensitive ramifications. This policy of political opportunism is taking a heavy toll of social and political fabric. This is repeated once again on the sensitive Telangana issue.  The congress is the only one political party that refuses to reveal its policy stand on the question of separate statehood for Telangana. But it repeatedly invites the opinions of other parties demonstrating its delay tactics. The congress is separatist at the time of elections and suddenly becomes integrationist after the elections. But, it takes a public posture in favour of Telangana. Political leaders of almost all colours are separatist when they are not in power or when they are without any political position. But immediately they swear in the name of integrity of Andhra Pradesh once rehabilitated politically. This is precisely the reason for the current state of affairs.

The congress had a political pact with the Telangana Rashtra Samiti.  Subsequently, the issue of Telangana figured in the common minimum programme and the presidential address to the joint session of the Parliament. Now, the congress leaders are busy giving myriad interpretations to these statements and indulging in a brazen display of semantics. But, semantics do not solve politics.

The congress central government had set up Pranab Mukherjee led committee to decide on the Telangana statehood issue. This itself is a cruel hoax. The Pranab Mukherjee committee had a dubious distinction of not resolving anything. Pranab Mukherjee committee can at best be described as a big political cold storage.  That has an ability to freeze things rather than decide on anything. On the other hand, the state congress especially led by Late Y.S.Rajashekhar Reddy was destabilizing the TRS.  The Political sell out of Telangana leaders is nothing new. This has been the practice in the last half a century. In fact, YSR was successful in this operation to a great extent. The TRS is electorally marginalized and organizationally decimated. But, the failure of the congress to address the fundamental issues that provide a repeated breeding ground for separate Telangana movement has kept up the emotions. The hunger strike of KCR has ignited this.

Yet again it is the congress party alone that still refuses to spell out its stand to the Pranab Mukherjee committee. Meanwhile, some congress leaders state that second states reorganization committee is their policy. But, it has not constituted even such a commission too.

This self defeating stand of Congress continues to perpetuate Telangana issue. Today, congress is driven to a corner and unable to come out of the riddle which itself has created.

For a long time Congress did indulge in political blame game. It first tried to throw the blame on BJP. But, BJP came out with a lashing reply. Its central leadership came out with a clear and unambiguous statement committing itself to Telangana. During, the tenure of first UPA dispensation, Congress conveniently tried to took shelter under its supporting parties. The CPM’s support to UPA government was vital for its survival. The CPM is perhaps the only party which still remains firm on its stand off linguistic states.  The Congress tried to exploit this. But, the UPA cannot enjoy even this advantage now.  Meanwhile, CPM   refused to allow the Congress to exploit its stand. The CPM said though it remains firm on its stand of not supporting the demand   for smaller states as a part of its all India policy, but will not stand in the way if congress wants to create a separate state of Telangana. Even the party has now decided to abstain if the government moves a resolution requesting the centre to carve out Telangana state.  Earlier, congress made a last minute bid to transfer the blame on Telugu Desam Party. But, on the eve of 2009 elections, TDP changed its stand and   supported Telangana demand.  Now, the congress is left with Hobson’s choice.