Rama Krishna Sangem
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a broadside against Congress from the Parliament. He has chosen to rake up the old wounds of 2013-14. He elaborated the manner in which Congress leadership at the time carried out the bifurcation of combined Andhra Pradesh into Telangana and AP. “It was a big mess and the bifurcation left many wounds for the both the states,” said PM.
Modi went on to recollect the manner in which the bifurcation was done amidst strong protests from Andhra MPs. Some MPs brought pepper spray into the House of Lok Sabha and the microphones were cut at the time of voting. Some TMC members went into the Well of the House and tore up the Bill copies, Modi recalled.
His intention was clear that Congress has mismanaged the entire bifurcation process. “Look, our Vajpayee Ji has created three states – Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand – but there not murmur against it,” said MP. At the same time, PM made it clear “We (BJP) are not against to Telangana formation”. His intention was to attack Congress led by Sonia-Rahul Gandhis.
However, not surprisingly, PM’s remarks sparked off protests from both ruling TRS and Congress in Telangana. TRS working president KTR called his party cadre to register their protests against Modi remarks. Modi is against to formation of Telangana, said KTR. Congress leaders too burnt the effigies of PM and attacked him for opposing the formation of Telangana.
BJP in Telangana is caught off guard. Party’s former general secretary Muralidhar Rao explained that there was nothing wrong in PM’s comments. “PM has only exposed the inefficiency of Congress in dividing the combined AP,” said Rao. Still TRS has caught PM on the wrong foot and projected his comments as “rude and unfair” towards the hundreds of youth who have given up their lives.
Why Modi raked up this issue now?
If we observe closely, Modi has been elaborately talking about Telangana, AP and people of Telugus for the last few days. He spoke about Telugu cinema becoming pan-Indian and two places in Telangana – Ramappa temple and Pochampalli village – getting international recognition recently. He praised Telugu people like anything. Now the bifurcation of AP after 8 years.
He is undoubtedly focussing on coming elections in Telangana, probably by the end of next year – 2023. Also he is trying to strength BJP in Andhra too. It’s no secret that TRS chief KCR’s relations with BJP and PM are not cordial. Sensing the upped antenna, even YSR Congress MP Vijaya Sai Reddy attacked Union budget in Rajya Sabha.
