Telangana bill yet another blow to Congress

In a dramatic way, the Telangana bill bifurcating Andhra Pradesh, was passed on February 18 by the Congress-led United Front government in collaboration with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Lok Sabha. The bill was passed despite protests by many lawmakers, including those from Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy resigned and also quit the Congress on February 18.
There have been widespread protests in New Delhi and Andhra Pradesh over the contentious bill. Now Telangana appears to be the 29th state of the Union of India which would comprise 10 districts. Andhra Pradesh will have 13 districts. Hyderabad, which was a princely state during the British rule, will remain the capital of two states for 10 years.
While submitting his resignation letter to the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Kiran Kumar Reddy said, "I am pained by the division of Telegus like this for the sake of votes and seats.  I am pained that I could not prevent bifurcation of the state." Votes in the Lok Sabha were being counted when opponents demanded a unified state and staged a walkout in protest. Voting on the Telangana bill was described as a black day in the history of the country by President of YSR Congress in Andhra Pradesh Y.S Jaganmohan Reddy, who is also a member of the Lok Sabha. He called a state-wide bandh (strike) for February 19.
Parties like the CPI (M) criticised the way the Andhra Pradesh bifurcation bill was passed in the Lok Sabha. The legislation was cleared in an undemocratic manner in violation of all norms and procedures. Interestingly enough, United Progressive government Tourism Minister Chiranjeevi embarrassed the central government by opposing the legislation to grant statehood to Telangana in presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Chiranjeevi was a former film star of Andhra Pradesh from the Telegu community. The TMC party also staged boycott of the session.
Now Andhra Pradesh is likely come under the Governor's rule until next election in the state.
 Another interesting development cropped up in Tamil Nadu whose Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha decided, in consultation with her cabinet members, to release seven convicts in Rajiv Gandhi murder case. She decided on this following verdict of the Supreme Court to commute their death sentences to life imprisonment. This decision caused furor in the Congress whose Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, son of Rajiv, took exception to it. On the other hand, DMK chief M. Karunanidhi lauded his arch rival Jayalalitha's decision. In another ruling, Supreme Court said the authority in Tamil Nadu misinterpreted the court ruling. The apex court directed the state government to stop the move and maintain status quo. Therefore, release of convicts could not take place. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu also came under scathing attack from the BJP for her decision. The sudden decision of Tamil Nadu state is seen to woo Tamil voters in the ensuing election in the Lok Sabha.
On the other hand, the BJP came under attack for collusion with the Congress in passing the Telangana bill in Lok Sabha by the left political parties and the Trinamool Congress. A spokesperson of the BJP rejected the allegation that there was a match fixation between the party and the Congress for the passage of the bill. It hit back by saying both left political parties and Trinamool Congress were till recently partners in corruption of the United Progressive Alliance government.
The Congress is likely to face a serious crisis in the ensuing Lok Sabha election on account of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, unbridled corruption in the country and concern about security of womenfolk in India.
Mohammad Amjad Hossain is retired diplomat from Bangladesh and former President of prestigious Toastmasters International Club.
amjad.21@gmail.com