There has been a great deal of confusion over the issue pertaining to clause 14 (f) of the Andhra Pradesh Public Employment (Organisation of Local Cadres and Regulation of Direct Recruitment) Order, which makes Hyderabad a free zone for the recruitment of police personnel and enables non-Telangana candidates to apply for jobs in the department in the state capital.
If Hyderabad is made a free zone, people from other parts of Andhra will be able to get government jobs in the city, but based on quotas. A person hailing from Andhra and Rayalseema will be eligible for a job provided he has stayed in the Telangana region for more than four years.
But it is Home Minister P Chidambaram's remark that has incensed Telangana activists. Chidambaram said on Monday that the Andhra Pradesh state assembly had to adopt another resolution for the deletion of the clause 14 (f) from the presidential order.
"The central government had returned the issue of deletion of Clause 14 (f) from the presidential order to the AP government to rebuild consensus on the issue. The cabinet committee on political affairs has felt that the issue be again referred to the assembly to re-seek consensus," he had said.
Miffed Telangana activists say this is nothing but a delaying tactic. "It is not the state government which should be passing a resolution regarding the formation of a state and, secondly, the issue of 14(f) has already been discussed in the AP legislative assembly. The leaders have unanimously resolved last year to make Hyderabad a free zone," they said.
Chidambaram's statement has also caught Andhra Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy unawares. He is said to have conveyed to the Union government that a resolution regarding 14(f) is already in place and there is no need to pass another one.
The resolution passed by the state assembly last year still holds good and there is no need for a fresh order, is the common sentiment among Telangana supporters.
As the protests in Hyderabad and districts in Telangana continue, activists are pinning their hopes on Friday's Parliament session. They expect that the issue will be discussed and sources also say that Chidambaram has sent a file regarding the free-zone issue to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Indications are that there may be a quick decision on 14(f) clause. If Hyderabad is declared a free zone it will bring some respite to Telangana supporters.
Meanwhile, the Congress leaders from Telangana are expected to resubmit their resignations to Andhra Pradesh Speaker N Manohar in a day or two. However, they have been skipping Parliament sessions and some allege that they are under immense pressure from the high command to attend.
