DOUBTING
THOMASES
Vanam
Jwala Narasimha Rao CPRO to CM
With
Vijay Kumar Gatika PRO to CM
Leader of the opposition in the
Telangana State Assembly K. Jana Reddy, while participating in a debate on budget in the
House observed that it would be a miracle if the Government would be able to
produce 20, 000 MW of power in the next three years. His voice sounded as if it
is an impossible task to achieve the target. In fact, it is not just Jana Reddy
but also to few others to whom the statements made and plans announced by Chief
Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao sounded similarly. When the CM announced that
total cleaning of Hussainsagar would be taken-up…..Skyscrapers would be built
around Hussainsagar including one which will be world’s tallest…..Roads all
over the state would be renewed and developed…..Tanks in the entire state would
be revived…..Drinking Water would be supplied at the doorstep of each and every
house all over the state…..Agriculture would be made as profitable as any other
production activity that can earn Crores of rupees….Temple Town Yadagirigutta
would be modeled on the lines of Vatican City…..and so on, it sounded to some
that CM is aiming at miracles and day-dreaming. Some feel it is a fantasy-an
imagination-and impossibility. Some expressed simple doubts. Some expressed
confusion while others have turned restless. Even some of those well meaningful
persons by nature too have expressed the view that CM is in a great hurry.
This sort of a scenario is not new to
either TRS party or its supremo Chandrasekhar Rao. Earlier, on several
occasions, when people who openly expressed that a particular thing was
impossible, they had to eat back their words when the same was accomplished by
KCR. Last Fourteen Years of concurrent history is fresh in our memory. All
these years several activities which looked like miracles, which astonished
many, which made critics dumb fold and which raised doubts in some became
realities. Anticipating the result is a god gift to KCR. This will be known to
critics only when it happens.
In 2001 at the time of starting of
TRS party a senior journalist who has been an ardent supporter of Telangana
movement was asked a question by his junior colleague enquiring the
possibilities of separate statehood to Telangana under the leadership of KCR.
The reply though optimistic was however not in favor of separate state. He
limited the chances of TRS only to a level of emerging as a strong power to
raise the issues of Telangana. Thus intellectuals too did not anticipate that
Telangana would be a reality. But KCR achieved it. An impossible task-a
miracle-became possible.
When KCR founded TRS, Chandrababu
Naidu was very powerful and popular. Persons like Bill Clinton were all praise
for Naidu. Media treated him as God. Congress tasted defeat twice by then and
was a non-entity. It could not dare to raise its voice even when farmers got a
rough treatment in the hands of Naidu. When everyone was scared to fight Naidu,
KCR single handedly opposed him tooth and nail. When he resigned his Deputy
Speaker’s post it was criticized as suicidal. The critics said that whatever
happened to those who started party earlier will happen to KCR also. Not even
ten persons came forward to join hands with KCR then. They could not visualize
the future of TRS. But…what happened is history. When KCR proposed a White
House like building for party office many expressed doubts. But KCR dreamt and
it happened. Was it also a miracle?
When YSR wind was blowing with full
velocity, KCR wanted to keep alive the Telangana Slogan and towards this he
sacrificed positions held by his party men both at the center and state. He
dared the Karimnagar bye-election. That was the time when several raised their
eyebrows and said if he loses the election, it would backtrack Telangana
Agitation. They said it was difficult to face YSR and his power. But…what
happened is history. He won the election. It was a miracle for many.
He anticipated “Sakala Janula Samme”.
He was confident that he could lead the masses and as the masses were with him
he marched forward. It was KCR’s trust in people that opened a new chapter in
the form of “Sakala Janula Samme”. When KCR undertook a fast unto death he was
ridiculed by some. They said he would end his fast after couple of days. They
described it as a drama to become popular among public. “Live or Die but get
Telangana” was the slogan with which KCR proceeded and that changed the
direction of history. Has anyone trusted that KCR would fast for eleven days
which would ultimately bring Telangana one day? It is said that KCR did not
even yield to the advice of Professor Jayashankar!
After achieving Telangana when he
wanted TRS to contest on its own without any alliance, many thought it was
adventurous and would be disastrous. In his own party, several senior leaders
openly found fault with KCR decision. Some even left party against his
decision. Political stalwarts said that it would be difficult to fight the Congress
party that had money power and muscle power. But KCR anticipated the result.
His party manifesto did not include any promise that cannot be implemented. For
instance he did not agree for two lakhs loan waiver to farmers and instead
insisted on only one Lakh rupees. Even his decision to start a channel to
propagate party policies is courageous.
After winning elections also KCR as
in the past continued his unveiling miracles. Some people even said that he may
not even come to secretariat regularly. Some said KCR cannot work for hours
together. In effect all proved wrong. Critics said comprehensive household
survey on a single day is impossible….but it did happen. Flag hoisting at
Golconda was doubted…but it did happen. Doubts were expressed whether “Our
Village-Our Plan” will become a reality…but it is a reality now.
When all these happened why not the
remaining? Whether it is cleansing Hussainsagar, building Skyscrapers,
developing Roads, providing Drinking Water and Yadagirigutta as Vatican
City…all will happen. End
