Telangana is desirable but Congress unlikly to end its dither in a month

Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde’s statement, after Friday’s meeting of representatives of political parties from Andhra Pradesh, that the Centre’s decision on the formation of a separate state of Telangana will be known within a month should, ideally, be a precursor to carving out this new state. However, given the dither by the Congress over the issue, largely due to trepidation about upsetting its electoral equations in the state, it is unclear whether anything more than a symbolic acceding to the demand will be had. What makes the latter eventuality likely is the minister’s other statement that this was the final all-party meeting on the issue. Given the polarised views on Telangana, what should have happened is a structured, sustained dialogue between the various stakeholders, instead of mere reiteration of known positions at a few all-party meetings even as agitation over the issue meant violence on the streets in Andhra. In the absence of that dialogue, and all party meets having achieved nothing, it is a moot point whether the Congress will do what it should: take the plunge and create the state of Telangana.

There are a number of reasons why it is feasible, even desirable to do so. State boundaries aren’t iron-clad, they have often been redrawn, and should be, based on compelling local politics and realities. Transcending linguistic reasons, there is a sound argument for having smaller, better-administered states, besides respecting people’s aspirations. And, clearly, the people of Telangana want a state of their own. The contentious issue of where the city of Hyderabad belongs can be turned into an advantage. The people of Telangana can have a quick separation while accepting Hyderabad as a shared capital for some time — until a new capital is built for Andhra. This new city should be envisaged as a modern, efficiently planned centre of economic dynamism. The investment that will pour into such a project, from the entire region and across India, will mean increased growth and prosperity for all. That prosperity can inaugurate a new era, erasing the divisions and animosity which exist now.