The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Telangana political leaders feel the heat

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 22, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Telangana political leaders feel the heat

By W. Chandrakanth

HYDERABAD, JAN. 21. A new reality is dawning upon political leaders following the fast-changing scenario in the rural areas of Telangana.

The relative peace over the last eight months, as a result of the talks' process initiated by the Government, has evaporated, with police encounters and reprisal killings by naxalites on the rise. Local MLAs and other leaders, who had earlier been receiving telephonic requests from militants and sympathisers of the naxal movement for speeding up developmental works, are now handling threat calls.

"Developmental works were progressing at a good pace. We could move about freely all these days. An encounter with dalam members was not a fearsome prospect. Now, it is back to the days of violence and we are at the receiving end," a TRS MLA from Kamalapur, E. Rajender, says.

In grip of fear

With anguish writ large on his face, Mr. Rajender laments: "What shall we do now? The naxalites are forcing us to join hands with them or face the consequences."

Though signs of naxal activity are evident in coastal districts like Guntur and Prakasam too, there is heightened concern among Telangana region leaders due to historical reasons.

Due to cessation of violent activity from the police as well as naxalites, the leaders were not unduly concerned over the reports of naxalites gaining strength as a result of the lull in the anti-naxal operations.

Public representatives in north Telangana as well as ordinary citizens were happy over the absence of midnight knocks.

Sircilla encounter

Ganganna, a jeep driver from Nizamabad (Armoor segment), who is also a political activist, explains: "We were under the impression that the peace process would last longer. Youth in our area are wary of the future."

The situation has radically changed now as the Sircilla encounter proved on Thursday. Anil, an Intermediate student, was said to be a friend of Saleem, a dalam leader (who was also killed). Anil's family claimed he was picked up and done away with - a throwback to the earlier days of repression.

The concern of Telangana political leaders is not misplaced.

"Even if naxalites use the peace process to strengthen the movement, its cadre has a history of getting lumpenised soon which would have made them lose people's sympathy. The Government should have properly planned the talks," B. Saraiah, a Congress MLA from Warangal, says. He adds: "I am in search of a new address."

He is not alone in his pursuit. Hundreds of political activists are knocking the doors of their leaders in the city. The Ministers' Colony in the city has become a beehive of activity nowadays with hundreds thronging the bungalows of Telangana leaders.

Sequel to breakdown of peace talks with naxalites

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