How do you read KCR’s offer of support to the Congress?
It is a betrayal of the people’s faith. If he wanted to support the Congress, why did he wait till 600 students died for the cause? Their precious lives would have been saved had he announced it in the beginning itself.
What do you think prompted KCR to adopt the new line?
I don’t know. But one thing is clear. KCR has been exhibiting signs of wanting to dilute the movement. This offer of support to the Congress is the last nail. KCR incited students into an agitation. They trusted him. They braved bullets. Some set themselves on fire. Others committed suicide. Now he says Congress is a friend.
How do you react to KCR’s statement that the Congress has already given Telangana?
This is another ploy to dilute the moment. Has there been any qualitative change since Dec. 23 last year? Did the Centre commit itself to giving a separate state? If Telangana has already been given, let KCR tell us where that Telangana is.
But KCR insists he is committed to Telangana.
Everyone is witness to how KCR has tried to slow down the movement. He signed a peace agreement with the Congress in January when Chidambaram called an all-party meeting in Delhi. After the Srirkishna Committee was set up, he has been saying: What is the hurry, the panel has time till Dec. 31.
Do you think the committee’s report will be in favour of Telangana?
I am certain it will not be in favour of Telangana. That is very clear going by the way the committee had been working. Indications are that the it will give options to the Centre. Is this a quizz for one to tick one answer?
What should have been done?
There can be no deadlines for people’s movements. I don’t understand why KCR suffers from this Dec. 31 fixation. The movement has to go on and that is the only way to build pressure. Slowing down the movement will harm the cause. Now KCR says even after Dec. 31 he will give time to the Centre to study the report and wait till Feb. for it to introduce a bill in Parliament. Who is he trying to fool?
Do you think the movement is still in KCR’s hands?
The movement has already slipped from his hands. Even though TRS won the July byelections, one should understand that it was a vote for Telangana, not for KCR. In Nizamabad, minorities voted for the BJP candidate. Could this have happened anywhere in India?
What future do you foresee for KCR?
The TRS chief is trying to catch up with the movement and at the same time trying to dilute it. He will not succeed.
–Agencies