Hyderabad, January 26: Here is a warning to elected representatives of Telangana! Any of them not willing to extend full-fledged support to the ongoing stir for a Telangana State are advised not to visit their constituencies after January 28.
But, why Jan 28? That is the deadline set by MLAs of the Congress, Telugu Desam and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) for the Centre to take a positive step on the issue failing which, they have offered to quit the Assembly.
One is not sure if the legislators are serious about the deadline they themselves have decided upon, but the people have, for sure, taken it pretty seriously. In fact, Jan 28 has become the buzz word even in the remotest corners of Telangana and people are just waiting for the day to pass to ‘‘test’’ those whom they have elected.
The message is clear: None of the MLAs would be allowed to step in their constituency if they do not reflect their commitment to a Telangana State in letter and spirit.
‘‘Scores of students have sacrificed their lives so far. Can’t the legislators sacrifice their post?’’ fumed a student of the Kakatiya University in Warangal. They have already stormed the residence of Minister P Lakshmaiah twice so far only to be beaten up by police.
The three-day tribal festival in Medaram in Warangal district, the most popular in this region beginning January 27, has turned out to be another opportunity for the people to show their support for statehood.
According to local officials, an estimated 80 lakh people are expected to visit the festival this time, 25 lakh more than last time. A majority of shops are named after Telangana and CDs of Telangana songs are selling in the thousands.
For the Congress, tragically, public support appears to be waning fast notwithstanding the fact that Delhi took the initiative to announce a separate State. People have not taken kindly to ministers first quitting the Cabinet and then rescinding their decision and legislators too weakening their stand over a period.
Same holds true for the Telugu Desam Party. Because, people seem to believe, rightly or wrongly, that both the Congress and the TDP are playing a double game. ‘‘Telugu Desam legislators are saying they will quit, but why can’t the party leadership come out openly and say it stands by its earlier position in favour of Telangana?’’ questioned a villager in Karimnagar district.
However, the sobering aspect is that there is no rancour among the locals towards those who have settled in this region after migrating from the Coastal belt.
‘‘They have been living with us for long and we will be happy to have them in our midst even in future. Our problem is only with political leaders,’’ is their refrain.
A section of the politicians argue that Maoists are playing an active role in the current T stir. But a government employee in Karimnagar offers an altogether different take. ‘‘Unfortunately, Maoists are no longer active in Telangana. Otherwise, they would have taught the politicians a lesson,’’ he says regretfully.
–Agencies