Threat to shut down Andhra colleges: Dr. JP lambasts KCR

Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today took strong exception to Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) President K. Chandrasekhara Rao’s threat to shut down corporate educational institutions being run by Andhra corporate entities once the Telangana State is carved out. “KCR’s threat is unconstitutional, illegal, undemocratic and detrimental to the unity and integrity of the country,” Dr. JP told a media conference here.

Dr. JP said that KCR’s threats have no place in a constitutional democracy. “Such threats are criminal and threaten the economic prosperity and growth of all Indians.”

Addressing meetings in Mahbubnagar district, Mr. Chandrasekhara Rao (KCR) is reported to have said that educational institutions floated by unemployed post-graduates in Telanagana suffered on account of institutions run by Andhra capitalists.

Quoting the Constitution, Dr. JP said, "There is only one Indian citizenship in the country. Every Indian wherever he or she is born is equal and enjoys the same right to pursue education, employment, profession or business."

Dr. JP said Mr. KCR is entitled 100 percent to agitate for a separate Telangana State by utilizing all the democratic means available. “In fact, Mr. KCR should be complimented for having led the agitation so far without triggering violence as in the past.” None can fault him if he got a separate Telangana formed by adhering to the procedure laid down in the Constitution. “The formation of a separate Telangana State is not a big deal when it is realized that there are more than 80 countries in the world which are smaller than a district in Andhra Pradesh. Whether a separate State will bring about any transformation in the lives of the people is altogether a different issue.”

“But rousing passions and fanning hatred among people of different regions in the name of a separate State is unpardonable, besides being illegal,” said Dr. JP.

Dr. JP wanted the people to “beware of politicians who ignite hared among them on the basis of caste or creed, religion or region and language or ethnicity to serve their narrow vote bank politics. Political parties are expected to harmonize conflicting interests and promote common good, and not to pursue divisive politics.”

Dr. JP referred to the Mala-Madiga confrontation in Andhra Pradesh and the Meena-Gujjar conflict in Rajasthan on the issue of reservations, the agitation against Hindi speaking people in Maharashtra and Assam on the issue of jobs for locals, the Maharashtra-Karnataka dispute over Belgaum, the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu row over river waters, not to speak of the Hindu-Muslim religious clashes all over the country and said the traditional political parties fuelled them unmindful that they threatened the unity and integrity of India.