Telangana Report, Simplified
Telangana Report, Simplified
A crisp and easy explanation of the key aspects of the Srikrishna Committee report on Telangana and AP.
As you perhaps know, the Srikrishna Committee has offered 6 possible solutions - with 4 of them involving splitting the state. If then gave reasons for the first 5 being impractical, and suggested the 6th one as the best way to go forward. That option is to keep the state united.
The main reasons the committee wants to keep the state united are:
2. Security reasons: Naxalism and religious fundamentalism will grow in Telangana.
3. National implications: Splitting the state will have serious implications outside AP (in the rest of India).
The Srikrishna Committee also said that it "did not find any real evidence of any major neglect by the state government in matters of overall economic development". That is, Telangana is not underdeveloped.
Here is a quick summary of the options, and what the Committee itself felt about them:
1. Maintain status quo
This means, the Union government needs to do nothing. The state government should treat the issue as a law and order problem (i. e. use the police to handle disruption of the law) rather than as a political problem.
The committee feels this is the least preferable option, which means it feels there is a genuine problem that will not go away with this approach.
2. Split the state into Seemandhra and Telangana, with Hyderabad as a Union Territory, and the two states developing their own capitals
Needless to say, this model will not work since the Telangana agitation is pretty much about Hyderabad, which contributes about 40% of the state's revenues. Besides, Hyderabad would then be physically cut off from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema.
The committee further adds, that "the sentimental and emotional satisfaction of having a new state of Telangana would remain unfulfilled if Hyderabad were not to be included in it."
3. Split the state into Rayala-Telangana and coastal Andhra, with Hyderabad being part of Rayala-Telangana
This recommendation stems from concerns of both the people of Rayalaseema and the Muslim community. Rayalaseema has a Muslim population of over 12%, while the figure is only about 8% in Telangana (excluding Hyderabad). Clubbing Telangana and Rayalaseema would not only give Muslims "greater political space", but would also take care of cultural and social issues.
Also, the committee states, "Rayalaseema is the most backward of the three regions. It is dependent on Telangana for water and irrigation resources, and values its access to Hyderabad for employment and education."
However, the committee acknowledges that this move won't be acceptable to either pro-Telangana or pro-United AP protagonists.
4. Split the state into Seemandhra and Telangana, with an enlarged Hyderabad Metropolis as a separate Union Territory
The committee proposes a Chandigarh model, but with the UT having geographical linkage via Nalgonda to Guntur in coastal Andhra, and via Mahboobnagar to Kurnool in Rayalaseema".
Again, the committee knows that Telangana supporters will not find this suggestion acceptable.
5. Split the state into Telangana and Seemandhra with Hyderabad as the capital of Telangana and Seemandhra getting a new capital
This means accepting all the demands of Telangana protagonists, which would obviously enrage the others. Also, the committee expresses serious concern over "the impact on internal security situation with the anticipated growth of Naxalism and religious fundamentalism", should this option be carried out.
Also, implementing this option will lead to "serious implications outside Andhra Pradesh", it says.
Telangana doesn't benefit from this option, either. Because the region is land-locked, it may also "lose out on access and opportunities to the eastern coastline which has a major port in Vishakhapatnam and many other sea ports", says the report.
The committee adds, "With vast discoveries of oil and gas on the anvil and the resultant likely spurt in economic growth and employment in the coastal region, an integrated economy is likely to benefit the people of both regions optimally rather than through separation by formation of Telangana state".
6. Keep the state united, and simultaneously provide development for Telangana through an empowered Telangana Regional Council
The committee considers this the best option of all - both for the state and for the country - and also says that this model might help address regional aspirations in other parts of the country.
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