Frequently Asked Questions ( FAQ’S) to a Telangana Supporter

# Why do you want a separate state?

Why not? 

I believe that there should be many more states in India than what we have now. A country like US which has 1/3 population of India has 50 states, why should we have 28 states only. Our population has more than tripled since we got independence, but we have not increased states even two-fold. Recently, India created three new states- Uttaranchal (from Uttar Pradesh), Chattisgarh (from Madhya Pradesh), and Jharkand (from Bihar). Why can’t we have Telangana (from Andhra Pradesh) now? Moreover, the proposal to carve Telangana was put along with the above three states. Only due to certain political compulsions Telangana was deleted from that list. There was another state in that proposal- Vidharba (from Maharashtra). India has the capacity and requirement to take on few more states, that would improve administration, reduce the influence of certain big states, allow interior and backward regions get attention and care from the center.

# Aren’t you paving the way for breaking up of the nation?

Fighting for a new taluk, or a new district or a new state is not same as asking for a new country.  Or is it? If that is case, no new taluks or panchayats should be carved, no new districts should be created. Can’t we look at newer regions taking care of changes in demographics, new cultural issues, and new aspirations, needs and wishes? Creating new states is constitutional and within the nationals interests.

# Why a separate Telangana? Aren’t you happy being part of Andhra Pradesh?

History: In 1947, India got Independence. In 1948, Indian Army ousted Nizam of Hyderabad to include Hyderabad and its regions into India. In 1953, Andhra was formed (from Madras State) as a state under Reorganization of States based on linguistic lines. In 1956, Telangana was merged with Andhra, although there was a majority demand to keep a separate state of (Hyderabad) Telangana. In 1956, there were protests in Hyderabad for Telangana which was quelled by police killing some of the protestors. The main reasons for not having separate Telangana then was the Congress led by Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, who was then Andhra Chief Minister was more influential and closer to Sardar Patel  then Burgula Ramakrishna Rao , the then Hyderabad Chief Minister and was able to convince Sardar Patel on merger, insipte of  Nehru’s opposition of the merger. The second most important reason being Hyderbad State being the Richest State in Indian Union having surplus budget of over 65 crores in 1956,ready infrastructure for the CAPITAL CITY and most important being money available for construction of mega irrigation projects in Telangana and water for Andhra areas.

The reasons for separate Telangana over years, especially after 1956 are plenty.

Some of them are outlined here:

~ Telangana is less developed compared to Andhra.

~ Rivers like Krishna and Godavari flow through Telangana, but the water from the dams are sent to Andhra. Before Andhra Pradesh formation i.e 1 Nov. 1956,, Telangana had irrigation in 17.55 lakh acres, which increased to 18.40 lakhs acres fifty years later after merger. At the same time, in Andhra the irrigated land increased from 34.5 lakh acres to 100.0 lakh acres.At the time of AP formation Telangana had 11.0  lakh acres under tank irrigation, historically as this region was covered by network of tanks (rainwater harvesting structures) under the rules of various kings much before Kakathiyas to the recent time till NIzam. This got reduced to 6.5 lakh acres due to reduced budgetary allocations to the minor irrigation projects.

80%  of the total catchment area of River Godavari in Andhra Pradesh is over 72.000 sq kms is in Telangana across seven districts, phenomenally minimum utilization of the river for irrigation development in Telangana.12 lakh acres in Andhra area compared to 5.0 lakh aces in Telangana. In YSR regime Polavaram proposes to divert 80 TMC of Godavari waters to krishna barrage to irrigate a additional 7.5 lakh aces of land in costal districts. Telangana loose 300 tribal habitations due to submerge along with 1.0  lakh acres of cropped land in Khammam dist.

Jurala Projects on  krishna river  was started in 1968 and was expected to finish in 1971.It took almost three and half decades to complete the project and the farmers received the water for irrigation only in 2005. This was mainly due to poor allocation of funds to complete this project which would irrigate over 1.0 Lakh aces in Mahabubnagar Dist.240 MW power generations was to be completed by year 2000, but only 120MW generation is till now, the other 120 MW is still under progress in advance state.

Srisailam Left bank canal ---It is contemplated to provide Irrigation facilities in Drought prone areas of Nalgonda District in addition to drinking water to fluoride affected villages enroute. The Project is later renamed as Alimineti Madhava Reddy Project. Originally SLBC  was supposed to have completed by  1980, but nothing has happened till now except naming it has Alimeti Madhava Reddy project/canal. Potential irrigation under this is 2.70 lakh acres . In comparison SRBC was completed by late nineties irrigating roughly over2.0 lakh acres in Rayalseema areas of Kurnool and Kadapa.

Nagarjunsagar Project: Nagarjuna Sagar project was taken up as a joint project between the then Andhra State and the then Hyderabad State in 1954. On the basis of the agreement, the project was to be jointly executed with left canal to serve 7.95 lakh acres in Nalgonda and Khammam districts with 161 TMC feet of water as its share. Around 2 lakh acres of lands in Andhra State limits were also to be served from the left canal.But in reality  and as a result of the manipulation in the ayacut levels of left canal, the ayacut in Telangana utilizes only 80 TMC feet of water to Telangana ayacut under left canal, against its entitlement of 161 TMC feet of water

~ Because of less literacy and backwardness of Telangana people, most of the new jobs, postings in government and education are given to people from Andhra.

~ Except for common language, the people of Andhra and Telangana have different dialects, histories, cultural systems, different food habits

In 1969, there was a major revolt in Telangana region by students, professors, government employees, politicians and many others demanding a separate state. The movement was quashed- many were jailed. Some of the politicians got reassurances and politicians from central leaders to some of their demands and everything was hushed up. Over the last thirty years, none of those reassurances and promises was kept. Some of those assurances were turned down by the court as well. The region is still reeling under strong Andhra influence in all phases of social, educational, economic and cultural life. There is a renewed struggle for a separate state now. TRS is a political party which is exploiting this sentiment.

# Aren’t Naxalites fighting for Telangana using guns?

No. Naxalites have a different agenda.

 They fight for achieving equal social and economic status through redistribution of wealth and land, and offering justice and opportunity to the backward classes. Their fight is seen wherever there is poverty and inequality in wealth- like Orissa, Chattisgarh, Karnataka, etc (most of these regions happen to be under Nizam before Independence) and is not confined to Telangana alone. Once the region is prosperous Naxalities will vanish in thin air looking for more under developed and socially oppressed regions in our country.

# How will a new state benefit people of Telangana?

~ Right now the coal is mined and electricity is produced in Telangana but most of it is supplied to Andhra region, while districts of Medak and Adilabad have four hours of electricity during the day during summer. In the new state, these districts will be fed with electricity. 

~ The rivers of Krishna and Godavari flow through Telangana, and the dams are in Telangana, but the canals carrying the water go to Andhra. In the new state, there would be new canals bringing water to the arid regions of Telangana bringing in prosperity to the farmers and local population. Once there is enough water for irrigation in Telangana, people will have better nutrition – healthier people ---- brilliant  minds, thus people exploring more avenues resulting in more revenues to the Telangana State in particular and India in general, thus bring prosperity to the whole region.

~ Most of the jobs, in government and education, are filled up by people from Andhra. In the new state, these jobs will go the local population.

# Did the other new states benefit?

Yes. Uttaranchal has introduced many sops for new industries because of which many industries are being set up in that state.

Chattisgarh has opened up its university to many people from India and is now for the first time introducing electricity to the interior regions. 

Jharkand which supplied Bihar with most of the raw materials now has its own industry and income.

# What is the rationale for new states?

When one state has two economically and culturally different regions, one being prosperous and the other backward, if corrective measures are not taken to uplift that backward region, there is a great danger that only the prosperous region gets all the attention, funding, new industries, canals, and opportunities, while the people of backward region keep losing out, even in their own region. When such a condition prevails far too long, strong corrective measures are to be taken, and if that does not work, a new state is one of the best solutions.

 WHY TWO TELUGU NR ASSOCIATIONS IN US AND WHY NOT TWO TELUGU STATES

People who are all USA and Canada know the answer well. We need not go into details as this is widely debated. It is just a hypocrisy for the guys who are taking about Samekhya  Andhra. They should first set an example in combing these forces overseas and then get to the grass level as the intellectuals are the one to take a lead.

If you are keen on knowing more about this topic, read through the following posts:

History of Telangana I Sardar Vallabhai Patel under Nehru Government decided to intervene. The police action, called Operation Polo, was launched on 13th September, 1948. Within four days, Osman Ali Khan, the Nizam, surrendered. So, the people of living in Hyderabad State obtained Independence after one year, on 17th September, 1948. This is also one reason why Sardar Patel thought Hyderabad should not exist as a STATE by itself, which over five decades have been proved wrong.

Telangana II: The detractors to the formation of Telangana give the following reasons: 1. Andhra people will take away all their investments from Telangana, 2. Muslims will dominate if Telangana becomes a State, 3. Hyderabad will become a Union Territory; away from both Andhra and Telangana, 4. Andhra people are hardworking, enterprising and well-educated, 5. Andhra Telugu is superior – everyone should become like them, 6. We will lose our identity as Telugu people. All these are mere excuses.

 In reality, a separate Telangana makes sense for one reason alone- that its people want it.

Telangana III: There is no animosity towards anyone while creating Telangana, not even Andhra people. Fight for Telangana is not new. It has been there since the inception of Andhra Pradesh.TRS is just a political party that came into cash in on the prevailing mood of Telangana people to have a separate state. TRS is not Telangana, which is as true as Congress and TDP is. And one cannot rubbish a movement based on the quality of its leaders.

Telangana IV: Some of the questions from commenter are answered here: Why should Hyderabad be given to Telangana? Do land-locked states fail economically? Do new states take long time to form? Will the new state has to grapple new problems like crime?

Telangana V: Political Angle: Though we should have got Telangana during NDA regime, it did not happen. So, why did we not get Telangana along with Chattisgarh, Uttarkhand and Jharkhand? So, when will we get our Telangana? What are the political angles that are delaying creation of Telangana?

Telangana VI: Hyderabad State?: Many detractors would want to create a Hyderabad state out of Telangana. Is there any merit to such a demand? Hyderabad has always been a part of Telangana. Can the immigrants of a land ask for a separate status by flooding a city or a piece of land? Imagine the immigrants of Mumbai cutting the city away from Maharashtra or Bangladeshi immigrants cutting away Kolkata from West Bengal and more so did Chennai/Madras and Coimbatore come to Andhra Pradesh in spite of having 65%  telugus in 1953.

Telangana VII: Political Drama: TRS, the most vocal of all parties to demand a separate Telangana lost many seats to TDP and Congress in the recently held by-elections. What does it mean? Did Telangana Movement lost its wind? Why did TRS bring upon us these by-elections? Is TRS same as Telangana Movement? What is Telangana ‘sentiment’? Why did TRS lose? Why are other political parties embracing Telangana ‘sentiment’? Is political outcome same as referendum?

Telangana VIII: You need to make a case: All those who seek a Hyderabad state carved out of Telangana, you need to make a case. First, you were not willing to give us a separate state. Now, you ask for a separate Hyderabad state. Your case is quite flimsy and is fraught with greed, selfishness and extreme self-centeredness. The case for Telangana, which includes Hyderabad as its center, was always valid from the time of inception of the state. There is no case of creating Hyderabad into a new state cutting it away from Telangana.

 CONCLUSIONS: The broad principles laid down by the SRC in 1956 for the creation of the new state hold good even today. It favoured the creation of linguistics states, but language was not the only criterion. It said national unity, linguistic and cultural homogeneity, geographical compactness and economic and administrative considerations must be factored in, which were not only ignored during the formation of Andhra Pradesh State but continued for next five decades. So there is a urgent need to correct this mistake and expedite the process of going back prior to 1 NOV 1956, i.e formation of Telangana.

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