Telangana trashes Congress compromise formula

Making one last attempt to force a solution to the Telangana issue, the Congress has now suggested a Gorkhaland model of autonomy.

The idea, mooted by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, would be revealed by Andhra Pradesh AICC in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad in the coming weeks.

However, the development has only further angered Telangana activists, who are unwilling to settle for anything short of a separate state.

People will come out on to the streets and fight tooth and nail opposing any compromise formula other than the formation of the state, says Dr Prithviraj, leader of the students forum for Telangana.

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Congress leaders from Telangana have made several attempts in the past few days to force a situation on this issue.

During their meeting with the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh a couple of days back, they had expressed their apprehentions about returning to their constituencies. Dr Singh sent them back with an assurance of an early solution.

However, the Congress, which had announced that the process for the formation of a separate state had commenced, has now suggested that it would grant autonomy instead of forming a separate state.

As per the suggestion, a council would be formed and Telangana would get a huge pay package.

Among the other proposals suggested for Telangana are the formation of a Telangana Regional Council and also a preparation of an annual report card, which would look into the problems of the people of the region.

Congress sources in Andhra Pradesh say that this is the most likely solution to the problem.

'The people of the region have been complaining about lack of facilities and other developmental projects. There has to be a middle path to the issue and we too feel that this is the best solution,' sources said.

'We will need to convince the people of the region that this is good for them. Breaking up a state is not easy and one must also take into consideration the sentiments of the people who hail from the rest of Andhra Pradesh.'

Congress leaders from Telangana have, however, decided to oppose this move.

Keshava Rao, an MP from the Telangana region, says that the model that was applied to Darjeeling cannot be applied here.

"This is not democray but hypocricy," says Dr Sangam Prithviraj, adding, "Don't you think this is ridiculous, especially when Telangana has been announced in both Houses of Parliament. Anything short of a separate Telangana is not acceptable to us."

"One must remember that all these promises will not reach any of the people at the end of it. Autonomy is not a solution. This not only includes our financial plight, but also our self respect. This formula will not achieve any of those goals," he said.

The political Joint Action Committee for Telangana too says that the formula is 'stupid'. 

"There is no way we are going to agree to this. They have said that they will make the people come around. This is not possible," a JAC member said.

Students would play a big role in opposing this proposal. In the days to come, our protests would intensify.

The students JAC too is unwilling to agree to the new formula. They have also come down heavily on Union Petroleum Minister S Jaipal Reddy, who recently voiced his opposition to regional and sub-regional demands.

"Who is he to talk about the Congress being against regionalism? Does he understand the cause? If he was so confident and was acting as the mouth piece of Sonia Gandhi, then why did he back out of those various political meetings he had to hold in the Telangana region? He too knows what his madam has suggested is all rubbish. But he cannot convey this to the people of Telangana," Dr Prithviraj said.

"The Union government is playing with fire; we dare the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi to come in with military support and meet the people of Telangana. Our respect for them will emerge only if they give us our state," he added.