NAPM Welcomes Separate Statehood for Telangana
NAPM Welcomes Separate Statehood for Telangana
With a caution to preserve the Democratic rights and Equity of People
Hyderabad / New Delhi, October 4, 2013:- We welcome the decision of the Union Cabinet to declare Telangana as the 29th state in the country. It should be the time for the jubilation for the underprivileged people of the Telangana region in the hope that the separate statehood will rectify the injustices and bring a new era of hope.
NAPM believes that smaller states are a key to decentralisation of power and to address the issues of equity and justice to the deprived sections of the state. It also resolves the administrative problems in governance and implementation of policies. In the same vein we would also like to point out the experiences of smaller states like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, carved out from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are yet to take off due to lack of political and bureaucratic inadequacy.
Hence, we must warn the leaders and the people that the experience of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh etc. clearly indicates that mere scale does not bring in decentralization. The development of the population and natural resources of Telangana to be just and sustainable would require that the development paradigm followed by those is power today should be revisited and reviewed and the planning process should be truly democratic. How would the Krishna waters or land of Telengana be harnessed and in whose favour? Will the toiling masses receive primacy in all economic and political decisions? These questions will have to be answered.
The decision of recognizing Telangana as a State, symbolizes a political and moral victory for the region. The central and state governments as well as the major political parties in the state have played opportunistic and partisan political games with people’s sentiments. Exploiting people’s emotions for vote bank politics, parties have supported formation of unholy alliances and politics of divide and rule.
Transparency is the Key for a Smooth Division Process of the State:-
Ever Since Congress Working Committee announced its decision to create Telangana State, there has been an outburst of protest across the SeemAndhra regions. Several People have raised serious questions over division process and have expressed their insecurities on various issues. These issues must be resolved across the table with “Maturity and Statesmanship”.
NAPM believes that an open and transparent division process would address the various insecurities of people on both sides. All the transitional decisions need to be brought into the public domain on either side of the state. In the Prevailing situation and with No trust on politicians, people should have an access to all information pertaining to state which will address their questions, grievances and apprehensions. Union Government must initiate a proactive information disclosure with regard to major issues like Water Sharing, State Debts, Revenue sharing, Jobs etc.
Formation of Telangana State – NAPM calls for People's Participation:-
But mere formation of state, will not resolve all issues. The present dynamics of Power Politics have to be changed. A Complete Political Transformation would be possible only by participation of citizens; who have struggled for separate state; in decision making process and owing up their responsibility towards building a Telangana State, with a shift in the balance of power from the hands of few to those struggling groups, who are fighting for power at grassroots levels for good governance and accountability of their political representatives. Inequities, land reforms to political rights and self-reliance within Telangana will also have to be addressed boldly. It is, therefore, with caution, we welcome this decision and wish a future bringing true sovereignty and justice to the people of Telangana.
Medha Patkar, Ramakrishnam Raju, Prafulla Samantara, Dr. Sunilam, Gabriele Dietrich, C R Neelkandan, Arundhati Dhuru, Saraswati Kavula, P S Ajay, Anand Mazgaonkar, Krishnakant, Bhupender Singh Rawat, Rajendra Ravi, Vimal Bhai, Madhuresh Kumar, Seela M, Sashank Rajwadi
