The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Separate Telangana inevitable, says Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 21, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Separate Telangana inevitable, says Minister

By Our Staff Reporter

KARIMNAGAR, DEC. 20. The Minister for Endowments, M. Satyanarayana Rao, on Monday said statehood for Telangana is inevitable and no force could stop the formation of the State.

"But I cannot say for sure when it will happen," he said. Mr. Satynarayana Rao told a press conference that Telangana State was economically viable as the region had natural resources, including rivers, forests, coal reserves, etc.

"Telangana is not the only region which is seeking separation. There is a similar demand from people of Vidarbha, Bundelkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Saurashtra and Konkan," he said.

F or the formation of new States, there would be a second States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) and based on its recommendations Telangana would be formed along with other smaller States, he added.

He said he had opposed the formation of Uttaranchal State tooth and nail. But the BJP had formed the State for the promotion of Hindutva because of the presence of several historic temples in the region.

Quoting the Fazil Ali Commission report which had favoured formation of Telangana State, he said even the first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, had agreed to the formation of Hyderabad State. If Telangana remained backward in spite of constitution of regional committees it was because of the apathy of the region's leaders.

Peace talks

The Minister felt that the peace talks between the Government and naxalites should continue for a long-term solution to the Left-wing extremism.

He said that the Government was committed to holding peace talks. The Union Minister, Oscar Fernandes, had also hailed the peace initiative. Mr. Satyanarayana Rao offered to join the social movement launched by the naxalites but differed with their ideology of armed struggle.

He made light of the hue and cry over naxalites resorting to forcible collection of party fund and recruitments during the truce period, saying they were doing the same even when their outfits were banned. He reiterated his appeal to naxalites to join the mainstream and participate in the democratic process of elections. "I will be happy if they (naxalites) are elected to power," he said. He charged the police with trying to obstruct the peace process. He appealed to the police to maintain restraint. He said both politicians and people were living happily in villages during the truce period.

Black money menace

He blamed black money and parallel economy for the ills of the State and said if these twin evils could be checked there would be no need for approaching the World Bank for loans.

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