The issue of placing Hyderabad’s law and order and other key administrative powers in the hands of the Governor is threatening to develop in to a flash point between the Telangana Government and the Centre. The State’s ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti was seeing the move as a preferential treatment for Andhra Pradesh where the ruling TDP is a partner in the BJP-led coalition at the Centre.
With Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao asking his party’s MPs to raise the issue and protest against what he called Centre’s usurping the powers of the State, serious trouble seems to lie ahead.
While other Opposition members stalled the proceedings of the lok Sabha on Monday on the first day of the Budget Session, TRS members rushed in to the Well of the House opposing the proposed amendment to the AP Reorganisation Act and shouted slogans against the Centre.
The issue came in to sharp focus after the Centre responded with alacrity to a letter from AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu seeking Centre’s intervention and more power to Governor to protect the property and liberty of Andhras living in Hyderabad.
Naidu’s letter came in the backdrop of the Telangana Government launching a demolition drive against the illegal encroachments on lands around Hyderabad. Illegal constructions on prime land belonging to Grukul Trust in the Hitec City came under fire from the TDP as the properties belonged to the people from Andhra. The State has also withdrawn the land allotted in the past to Andhra Pradesh Government employees in Hyderabad.
In quick response to Naidu’s letter to the Prime Minister, the Union Home Ministry has sent a circular to the Telangana Government seeking its opinion on a proposal to increase the powers of the Governor.
The circular has suggested an amendment to the section 8 of the AP State Reorganisation Act 2014 empowering the Governor to review the decision of the Telangana Government on law and order in Hyderabad. The circular has suggested constitution of a common police board with absolute powers to the Governor in regards to the law and order in Hyderabad. The draft rules also include power to the governor to appoint and transfer the police officials and scrutinising the crime investigation files. “He (the Governors) shall after consulting Telangana Ministers exercise his judgment as to the action to be taken. The decision of the Governor shall be final and validity can not be called in question,” circular said.
The Section has already empowered the governor with law and order, internal security and security of vital installations and management and allocation of Government buildings in Hyderabad, the common capital of the two States for the next ten years. Telangana Chief Minister KCR has taken a strong objection to Centre’s circular.