Qualitative change in Indian politics is indispensable-KCR : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

Qualitative change in 

Indian politics is indispensable-KCR

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

Chief Minister Telangana and TRS President K Chandrashekhar Rao on 3rd March 2018 advocated for the need of a sea change in the country’s political scenario, which has been in a rut for the past 70 years and hinted at he himself leading the emerging alternative. CM came out heavily to advocate that there is a scope for a qualitative change in the country’s politics. He said the present political atmosphere in the country at the national level lacked novelty and innovation in their thinking and working. He believed that the demand for change for the better would come from people and the leadership to bring about such qualitative change would emerge automatically as was done in the past.

Airing serious displeasure over the slow progress in the country during the last 70 years under the governance of either Congress or BJP, as well as the miserable failure of the existing political system, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao felt that a qualitative change in Indian politics is indispensable. The CM addressing a large gathering of local and up-country media in Hyderabad at his camp office Pragathi Bhavan, said that, people in India are totally vexed and are looking for a change as early as possible. Citing the examples of Janata Party formation and its coming to power, NTR’s Telugu Desam formation and coming to power and the formation of TRS Party, achieving separate state for Telangana and then coming to power, CM said that, as and when a necessity arises for a qualitative change in the existing system, the process of evolution will surprise everyone, and this has been proved more than once in this country. “Such a desire for change is very much in the hearts of people in the country. Once it begins it engulfs. Situations and need will give birth to leaders. KCR became a leader during the separate statehood movement. Leaders emerge from the people’s movements and you will witness it in future,” KCR said.

CM said that this would be the unification of people of India and none can prevent. KCR also declared that if he is required by the people to change the national political scenario, he is ready to shoulder the responsibility without any hesitation and would also inform PM Modi beforehand of his intent. CM however, made it crystal clear that he has nothing against Modi or to that matter anybody but only expressing his serious displeasure on the existing political system. CM asserted that “There is big political vacuum in the country and certainly we can set the agenda of the country. Country must march forward in a new direction. We are trying to identify the tools required to cobble up an alliance or consortium of parties minus BJP and Congress.”

Prior to the media meet, CM KCR held a meeting with all the 17 TRS Parliament Members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to convey his decision to them for raising the issues of state in both Houses of Parliament vociferously and insist on a positive announcement on the floor of the House by the Government in favor of State. In fact, it was there in this meeting where CM shared his views on the prevailing political situation and the need for a drastic change. CM began his opening remarks by questioning the participant Members of Parliament and eliciting their view, whether there is any possibility to achieve a qualitative change in the country after 70 years of experience with two political systems lead by either Congress or BJP.

CM KCR said, “At any given point of time either NDA lead by BJP or UPA lead by Congress or both on their own have been strong. However, except for change of slogans and changing the names of schemes, there has never been a situation to improve the lot of people at large. In 2004 the union budget was Rs 4 Lakhs Crores and now in 2018 it touched Rs 24 lakh Crores which at the best speaks of an incremental growth, but the economy was not really stirred. The 70 years’ experience of these two systems of Governance, one by BJP and the other by Congress, has been fooling the people. It’s time that people unite to fight this. Wealth is not accumulated in the real sense as it ought to be. It is time that we take the country forward in a tremendous manner. Our services shall be made useful to Indian and national politics.”

CM added that, “Governance means among other things giving power to elected government to collect taxes and distribute the benefit equally among all in an impartial and fair manner to maintain equilibrium. Making very good laws is another power given to Government. Whatever is good for the people must be done. Law shall be uniform throughout the country. Tamil Nadu cannot have the benefit of 62% reservation for 21 long years when it is not allowed for Telangana. There had to be unanimity in governance and among all the States. However, the Centre had been consistently ignoring the State’s demand on empowering the States to enhance reservations. Even BJP-ruled States like Rajasthan were seeking powers to decide reservations in its territory and Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu too were implementing reservations as per their wishes. Is there anywhere mentioned in the Constitution that there shall be only 50% reservations? The issue of reservations shall have to be discussed all over the country. When each state has its own social composition how can their rights be curtailed? I strongly feel that there is a dire need in the country to correct things that went wrong.”

Continuing his spree of thoughts and ideas in the press meet that took place after the meeting with MPs, CM said that, he is ready to play a key role on national political landscape to spearhead an initiative for change to challenge the supremacy of center to ensure every state got its due from union government. CM said that he had harbored ambitions to serve the nation by moving to national politics to bring in some key changes on political landscape of the country and would take an active role for bringing change in national politics in the coming years. “If necessary I will take the leadership at national level. Why not? I am 64 years old. I will be useful to the country for next couple of years if my health permits me” said CM.

While asserting that he would prepare a national alternative sans Congress and BJP, KCR said like-minded leaders from other parties and States were in touch with him. He argued that people were vexed with the goings on at the Centre. “If Congress replaces BJP at the Centre tomorrow, nothing would change except the names of schemes. It is time we put an end to such old practices and laws to pave way for qualitative change in politics,” Chandrashekhar Rao observed. “It happened in the past and it will happen in the future. I have nothing personal against Congress, BJP or leaders of either parties, but I am speaking in the best interests of the nation,” the Chief Minister said.

Answering a spate of questions in his own characteristic style CM KCR said that, “the country has been functioning in a routine manner. People are being cheated. People should be dragged out of this unfortunate vortex. I will do my level best for this. If one tries for a better change, it will be like forest fire. If need be 100 percent I will work for this. Don’t we know Hindi and English? Leave it to me and see the story how it unfolds? I will make all of you proud. At this age, if I am of any use to the nation, I will. Very soon, the background for a qualitative change in India polity will begin. I have 100 percent basis for my proposal. You should be proud if the leadership for the country emerges from Telangana. I will take the initiative for the change. Like-minded people will follow. There is no secrecy in this. While talking about such an important issue, KCR will not move around in disguise. I will do it openly. Don’t we have right to work for the nation and its people?”

On the proposed political alternative at the national level, the CM said,” What is important is not which alternative will emerge but there is a simmering discontent among the people on both the national parties. There is a need for a change in the country’s politics as people are fed up with the present-day alternatives they have. Of the 70 years of independent India, except for five to six years of non-BJP, non-Congress Front, Congress and BJP ruled for 64 years. What is their answer to the country? I am making this demand in all the seriousness. Even after 70 years of independence, there is no water for drinking purposes. We are only utilizing 30 percent of the water resources in the country. Water is being supplied from Northern China to Southern China covering 2400 Kilometers to supply 1600 TMC of water. We have 40,000 TMC of water in the Ganga and Brahmaputra. If we can utilize the water, where is the question of having famine in the country? At the Centre level Laws can be changed and changes can be brought in. But nothing happened. Change in governance at the Centre will merely change names of the schemes. Thus far, nothing else,” the CM elaborated.

And Hence qualitative change in Indian politics is indispensable said CM KCR.