Perception of grave political and economic injustices at the hands of successive Andhra dominant Governments became the cause of alienation and frequent bouts of agitation for separate Telangana State.
Primarily led by intellectuals, writers, poets and academicians like Kaloji Narayan Rao, Prof Jayashankar and Vidyasgar Rao, the proponents of Telangana have been raising the issue of declining share of local people in Government jobs in the region, diversion of more and more river waters and resources from Telangana to Andhra.
lack of proper representation to Telangana at the highest level of political leadership in the State also added to the fuel of fire. For instance, Telangana politicians point out that irrespective of the party in power — Congress or Telugu Desam Party — the lion’s share was enjoyed by Andhra politicians. Out of the 57 years, Andhra Pradesh was ruled by Andhra CMs for almost 44 years.
While Telangana is the largest of the three regions with 41.47 per cent of its total area and nearly 41 per cent population, it contributes 76 per cent of the State’s revenue.
While the proponents of integrated Andhra Pradesh claim that Telangana was getting a major share in budgetary allocations, Telangana supporters have countered that the allocated budgets were never spent on the region resulting in a lopsided development specially in the field of irrigation. They point out that of the total areas irrigated by major projects, whopping 74.25 per cent was in coastal Andhra and 7.55 per cent in Rayalaseema against a meagre 18.2 per cent in Telangana.
Both Krishna and Godavari pass through Telangana before entering Andhra.
Situation on the Government employment front was still worse. Of the total strength of employees in Telangana, share of local people had dwindled to less than 20 per cent remaining going to the migrants from Andhra backed by powerful politicians.
Situation in State Secretariat, the hub of the Government was still worst. less than 10 per cent of the jobs were in the hands of Telangana people and the share of Telangana among the heads of the department was less than three per cent. Till now not even once an advocate general of the State was appointed from Telangana. Needless to say that in the pre-Andhra Pradesh days all these jobs and positions were occupied by the local people. All the efforts to undo these injustices came to a naught. NT Rama Rao had constituted a series of committees to ascertain the real situation. But the reports of these commissions including Girgilani committee were never implemented as political pressures came in the way of repatriating the Andhra employees to their places.
In the last ditch efforts to keep Andhra Pradesh united, the opponents of Telangana were now arguing in support of special economic packages and regional development council to ensure balanced development. But to Telangana supporters it has come a bit late in the day.
They allege that Andhra politicians never honored such commitments in the past-ranging form Gentlemen’s agreement of 1956 and six point formula of early 1970s. It was the Andhra politicians who abolished the regional development councils and Mulki Rule meant for safeguarding the interest of Telangana people. Apart from the sustained political agitation run by Telangana Rashtra Samiti, Telangana Joint Action Committee, BJP and CPI, the movement was also strengthened by the fact that all sections of Telangana society — employees, teachers, students, professionals, minorities and women organisations were involved in it. However, the biggest role was of the students and youth about 1,000 of whom committed suicide over the last seven years.
Thus the current phase of Telangana movement became unique as people did not kill others but themselves to achieve their long cherished dream of a State of their own.
Some say the fight is for formation of a new State. But local say it is nothing but restoration of a pre-existing State.