Perennial injustice to TS under Modi rule : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 Perennial injustice to TS under Modi rule

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

The Pioneer (18-09-2022)

            Choosing timely and appropriately the platform of State Assembly, Telangana Chief Minister Kalvakuntla Chandrashekhar Rao, demonstrating unique statesman like qualities, unveiled concisely but precisely the discriminatory attitude of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, towards Telangana, frequently referring him sarcastically as ‘Vishwa Guru’.

KCR underscored series of perennial injustices inflicted on the young state and accused the Centre of discriminating against Telangana since day one of its formation. In the process many harsh realities were brought to the notice of the House. The instance was Chief Minister’s reply to the short discussion on ‘Central Electricity Bill ramifications’ on the floor of the House on 12 September 2022. The sum and substance of KCR speech as captured below will remain as one of the historical records of State Assembly.   

            Recalling the first and foremost injustice done, contrary to spirit of State Reorganization Act, even before he was sworn in as Chief Minister, KCR cited the instance of Modi Government’s decision in his very first Cabinet Meeting, transferring seven mandals forming part of Telangana to Andhra Pradesh, the residuary state. In addition, the 460 Megawatts Ceeleru Hydro Electrical Power Project was also arbitrarily transferred to Andhra Pradesh.

Telangana largely depends on ground water. As the anticipated irrigation projects for Telangana were not materialized and remained incomplete, in the united AP, farmers by and large were left with no alternate except depending on ground water. As a result, large number of borewells were dug.

            When the state reorganization bill was in final stages, in the presence of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, TRS and Congress members fought for the right of Telangana for adequate allotment of power to meet the shortage and more utilization. Accordingly, more than 53% of power was allotted to Telangana. The Lower Ceeleru Power Project was earmarked to Telangana. Similarly, Singareni Collieries Company was also kept with Telangana thanks to the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s initiative.

            But the things moved the other way later. When KCR was yet to sworn in as Chief Minister, Prime Minister Modi in connivance with the then AP Chief Minister in whose hands he was like a puppet then, brought an ordinance consequent to a cabinet resolution merging seven mandals forming part of Telangana in to AP. In the normal course it was a constitutional obligation, mandatory and obligatory, that such significant matters cannot be enacted simply through an ordinance but to be necessarily referred to state assembly. Without doing so, arbitrarily and cruelly the seven mandals and the Ceeleru power project were taken away from Telangana and gifted to Andhra Pradesh. It was the beginning of discriminatory treatment to Telangana.   

            Reacting to this injustice, KCR said he slammed the PM and became the first person in the country who had gone on record criticizing Narendra Modi as the most fascist PM of this country. This in those days was widely publicized in the electronic and print media. KCR who was only CM designate then, despite disagreement from some quarters, also gave a call for Telangana State bandh as his pleas to return both mandals as well as the power plant to TS fell on deaf ears.

The CM said the recent directions from the Centre to TS to pay power dues to AP was the latest instance of continued discrimination against Telangana. He pointed out how the Centre also discriminated against Telangana in the matter of REC and PFC loans to power and irrigation projects. Such examples discriminating against Telangana are plenty.    

            Making references to the authoritarian governance of PM Modi, KCR mentioned about the arbitrary way the central electricity bill was introduced in parliament. If it is passed, around 98 lakh families would be affected in Telangana alone. Farmers, Dalits, tribals, laundries, salons, poultry, textiles, MSMEs and all those getting subsidized power would be affected. The law would help governments loot the people and benefit their crony capitalist friends.

Parliamentary democratic setup of India envisages healthy conventions besides constitutional safeguards. The CM rued that the spirit of the Constitution as drafted by Ambedkar was no more adhered to and being given up day by day. Had he been alive, Dr Ambedkar would have resisted such moves vigorously.

Indian Constitution provided for state list, central list and concurrent list. Despite the presence of concurrent list requiring consultation between states and center many issues like Electricity Reforms, central government is unilaterally and arbitrarily enacting without consultation contrary to spirit of constitution. Discrimination against some states even in the legitimate functions assigned to them in the Constitution leaves much to be discussed.

The CM also pointed out the state of affairs in parliament where, he said, hardly there was any discussion on Bills. Members from Treasury Benches bulldoze opposition members when they raise to speak giving no chance to express their view point not to speak of dissent and cause commotion in the House, and amid that din, bills were being passed without any quality debate. He also lambasted the ignorance of the Central government and lack of a scientific assessment of national and international markets, quantum of foodgrains production, trends in the market rates etc., which was threatening food security in the country and causing misery to farmers.

Ridiculing Amit Shaw’s statement to wipe out all opposition parties in the country, KCR dared the BJP to ban all non-BJP political parties and face the music. BJP in both the elections secured less than 50% of votes and ruling the country with just about 36% of votes only. Such an arrogance on the part of BJP will no more be tolerated warned KCR, citing the downfalls of dictators such as Hitler, Mussolini and Napoleon.

KCR turned emotional and said in a country where Buddha and Gandhi were born, the heart of Mother India is being wounded by communally divisive politics pursued by the BJP. Secular and democratic thinking persons are feeling very bad for this. Even now, to whichever country an Indian goes he or she is asked whether they are from Gandhi Ji’s place. In such a great country, what is that we are experiencing now? KCR also castigated BJP for toppling the democratically elected governments in many States.

Stressing that only people were supreme in a democracy, he said threats by Centre and BJP leaders would fizzle out. He reminded how various democratic and even Left forces came together under the leadership of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan to decimate the dictator rulers of the day and coming to power in just 40-50 days. The same shall be repeated if needed KCR warned.

Against this backdrop, KCR predicted that the BJP would be ousted from power within the next 18 months. The CM also announced that he would launch a National Political Party soon to expose the BJP's anti-people policies and inefficient governance. Having spoken passionately on the wrongdoing of the Modi government, KCR regretted that it was unfortunate and his bad luck that he had to criticize the country's Prime Minister. He said ‘very sorry, with a heavy heart and lots of sorrow I am confessing that in our democracy such a bad moment should not come for anyone. But who is responsible for this?’. END