Telangana has been a big political as well as psychological issue for over five decades for Union government and Andhra Pradesh Government as well as people of the state. As a part of Andhra Pradesh Telangana region constitutes of 10 districts of the state. These include Hyderabad, Adilabad, Mehboobnagar, Medak, Karimnagar, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, RangaReddy and Warangal districts. These cover about 40 percent land area of the whole state and about 41% (30.6 million) population of Andhra Pradesh.

Except Hyderabad all other districts of the region is known for extreme poverty, unemployment and naxal activities too. Krishna and Godavari are two major rivers of the region apart from several (about 10) small rivers. The literacy rate of the region is comparatively lower than the Andhra Pradesh and other Southern Indian states. Government data says that the literacy rate in the region is about 58% while the Andhra’s litracy rate is over 61% and other southern states have over 65% literacy rate.

Political aspects of Telangana movement:

The recent crisis of Telangana actually started in last week of November when Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) Chief and former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh K Chandrashekhar Rao started fast-unto-death for the formation of Telangana state. After his agitation Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosiah met the Home Minister and Prime Minister on this issue and hold detailed discussions in this regard. On December 9, 2009, the Chief Minister met the Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi in this regard. After several round of parleys at the top level the Home Minister P Chidambaram made an announcement before media that centre will initiate process of formation of separate Telangana state and requested the TRS Chief to end his fast.

This had created a festival like celebration in the Telangana region. But this has created a nuclear fission like reaction as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayavati demanded to creation of separate states like Bundelkhand and Poorvanchal and started sending letter to the Centre despite being a head of the state. Demand and agitation for Gorkhaland and other small states had also resurrected.

This has brought the union government in jeopardy. The government had to reconsider its decision for the formation of a separate state as spate of resignations started coming after the decision both from non-Telangana regions of Andhra Pradesh.

There are three regions in Andhra Pradesh Rayalseema, Coastal Andhra and Telangana. Even the several union ministers from Andhra Pradesh, especially Non-Telangana region had offered their resignations on the issue. Considering this the UPA government took another stand on the formation of Telangana state and said on 23rd December “the opinions of all the concerned forces will be taken into consideration”. This flip-flop of the union government had ignited the crisis and people, political parties and several other NGOs and agencies came on street on the issue.

Historical Perspective:

Actually the issue of Telangana has been emotional, psychological, economical issue for the people of Andhra Pradesh. Here it should be remembered that Andhra Pradesh was the first state which was formed in November 1956 on the basis of linguistic line after the report of State Re-organisation Commission (formed in 1953) and Gentleman agreement. But despite having the common language in the region the nine cities had different identity form rest of the Andhra Pradesh. It was known as Hyderabad state, ruled by Nizam. Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister, wanted to erase the imperialistic identity of the region.

The Gentleman Agreement says that Talngana can be formed if the state passes a resolution with two-third majority to form a separate state. There were complaints about the agreement and its implementation and step-brotherly treatment for the Telangana region for several years after the formation of the state. In 1969-70 major movement had taken place demanding a separate state for Telangana and a large number of students participated in the movement especially from Osmania University, one of the oldest institutions of the country. About 360 students were killed or died and over 3000 gone missing in the movement. This has become such an emotional issue that almost all political parties came into power by cashing the issue of formation of separate Telangana state. Even film star N T Ramarao came into power in just nine month of the formation of his Telgu Desham Party (TDP) and he became the Chief Minister of the state by riding on the issue of separate Telangana. Even recently Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party get a good number of seat by raising the issue of separate Telangana state. Almost all parties include formation of Telangana in their manifestos to come in the power.

Economical perspective:

Understanding economical perspective is quite interesting. It must be noted that there was not much objection from the various quarter when the union government announced its intention to form a separate Telangana state. But when the Union Home Secretary told media that Hyderabad would be capital of Telangana the whole political system boiled and agitated despite the fact that historically Hyderabad has been part of Telangana region.
Actually several economic issues and interests are affected by this decision. According to a study Hyderabad has been expanded from 2197 sq Km to 6852 sq kms over a period of time and cultivable land of several districts like Medak, Mahboobnagar, Rangareddy, Hyderabad and Nalgonda have been included in the process of urbanization. Hyderabad has maximum number of Special Economic zones (SEZs) in the country. Andhra has 73 SEZs out of 513 SEZs approved in the country. 66 SEZs out of 73 are situated in Hyderabad alone. This is enough to understand economic implications of the decision to make Hyderabad capital of the Telangana.

Take a lesson from the History:

It is true that administration and development is easy and better in small states. But it is not a panacea of poverty and underemployment. Jharkhand was formed on the same line saying that the state would develop very fast and provide employment to its own people as it is full of natural resources and minerals. But one decade of formation of the state could not change the situation very much. Several other states were formed on the same line but we do not see a major change in those states.
Actual problem lies in the administration and politics. If administration is better and elected representatives works for their areas the problem can be resolved to a great extent.

While Telangana issue is not ready to clam down the students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) too has joined the demand for Telangana. Students belong to the Telangana area have formed a ‘JNU Forum for Telangana’ (JNUFT).

The forum has already submitted a memorandum to K. Rosaiah, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. The JNUFT, claims backing of teachers and students of Delhi University, IGNOU and JNU including JNU Stuedents’ Union (JNUSU), is also planning to submit a memorandum to the Home Ministry in this regard.
Sunitha Eluri, a member of JNUFT, told fachcha.com that students of Osmania University and other universities protesting in support of the Telangana states are being booked under non-bailable cases. “We demand to immediately withdraw such cases against them through this forum”, she says. According to her police resorted to lathi charge and using rubber bullets in University campuses. Several students were arrested and Police forces are claiming they arrested the students as a preventive mechanism. This attitude of the state government is yet another example of discrimination towards people of Telangana, she says adding that JNUFT strongly condemns such acts.