The decision of the previous UPA Government to make Hyderabad a common Capital of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and making the Governor a “super authority” by vesting him with the powers of law and order over the Capital is turning out to be an Albatross around the neck of the Narendra Modi-led NDA Government.
The issue has become a flash point between Telangana Government and the Centre as the State Government has rejected the latest missive from the Union Home Ministry.
Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and many senior Cabinet colleagues have come down heavily on Centre’s move and described it as “fascist” and “undemocratic and unconstitutional”. On Saturday, State Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma, after meeting Chief Minister KCR and Governor ESl Narasimhan on Saturday, wrote a letter to the Union Home Secretary rejecting the orders on giving more powers to the Governor.
S Suresh Kumar, Joint Secretary in the Union Home Ministry had written the letter asking the State Government to hand over the law and order powers over Hyderabad to the Governor. He wrote that the issue of safety and security of people of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana living in the areas of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation GHMC was a matter of concern for the Centre.
It was second time since the formation of Telangana State that the Centre has proposed amendment to the business rules under section VIII A of the AP State reorganisation Act.
In his reply the Chief Secretary said that it was not possible to implement this order, as Centre’s stand on the issue was not acceptable by the State Government. He said that the office of the Governor should function within the limits of the AP State Reorganisation Act in accordance with the advice of the State Cabinet.
The Chief Secretary wrote made it clear that the State will not transfer any powers to the Governor.
An extremely unhappy Chief Minister KCR has also directed the Chief Secretary to send the copies of Centre’s letter to all the Chief Ministers to keep them in formed. He said that he will soon convene a meeting of all the Chief Minister as it poses a great threat to the federal spirit of the country and marks the interference of the Centre in the affairs of the State.
“The Centre’s move is undemocratic and unconstitutional. It can not usurp powers of a democratically elected Government,” KCR said.
Similar strong reactions have come from other Ministers and leader of ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti who saw a political conspiracy behind the move. State deputy Chief Minister T Rajaiah, Home Minister N Narasimha Reddy and Information Technology Minister and KCR’s son K Taraka Rama Rao have all held the Andhra Praesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu responsible for the situation.
“The two Naidus are misleading Prime Minister Narendra Modi to issue such orders,” said the State Home Minister N Narasimha Reddy questioning the motives behind the move. “There had not been a single incident of any attack on the Seemandhra people in Hyderabad after the formation of Telangana Government two months ago,” he said.
KTR said that Chandrababu Naidu and Venkakaih Naidu were creating problems because they were not able to stomach the good work of KCR Government. “It is an attack on democracy. We will fight it out politically and legally,” he said.He warned that such measures will increase the disputes between the Centre and the States.
State Home Minister N Narasimha Reddy said that Centre’s letter to the Chief Secretary to transfer all the powers to Centre over Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation area was not acceptable to Telangana Government .Deputy Chief Minister T Rajaiah said that the Governor’s rule over Hyderabad will not be accepted at any cost. The Centre should immediately withdraw the orders.
“Narendra Modi was creating obstacles for Telangana State at every step if this attitude does not change we’re ready to launch another massive movement,” he said.Congress MP H Hanumantha Rao said that if the law and order power of Hyderabad was shifted to the Governor it would come in the way of running smooth administration and adversely affect the law and order situation in the city.
“What is the need for a Home Minister , if the law and order is vested with the Governor,” he asked.