Fact:
The Central government of India has decided to give into the demands for a separate Telengana state, finally deciding on the decades old Telengana issue. For years, there has been a demand for a separate Telengana, carved from the southern province of Andhra Pradesh.
The Political Game:
"At the present we leave the decision to the high command": Congress leader Geeta Reddy
A high-level meet over the Telangana issue was convened at 10, Janpath, the residence of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and participated by Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, and Union Minister for Law and Justice Veerappa Moily in the national capital.
Question:
Why? Is the Congress high command the right authority to determine the division of existing states in the Union of India? Is it really a constitutional authority with powers and if not, why was Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah in New Delhi to meet Sonia Gandhi to discuss the Telangana issue? Why are our politicians sending "letters of request" to Sonia Gandhi to decide on whether a state should be bifurcated? One question you may ask is - Where the hell was our Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh? Well, of course, he returned from his tour of Russia on December 9 and the same evening the decision for Telangana was announced. One wonders how much time a jet lagged, 77 year old person was given to decide on issues of national importance? Or was it that his absence is really not important since the powers to be had already made up their mind?
What's Next:
Besides the Central government proving that it has weak knees (yet again - be it internationally or within the country), this decision is bound to stoke dormant separatist aspirations across the country. A demand for a separate Gorkhaland has already been raised (with a 96 hour bandh announced). One wonders how many pieces would India be divided in to until no one "feels neglected". Have we not learnt anything from how a bunch of traders from the East India company were able to easily conquer our (great?) nation (or, were they really responsible for bringing disparate, quarreling kingdom states in to one umbrella called India?). What is happening to us as a nation? Where are we really headed with so much confusion, hatred and dirty politics AND a clear lack of political participation from the common man, including myself.
"Mera Bharat Mahaan…Nahi Hai, Per Yeh Dosh Mera Hai." -- Anonymous
