Padma Bhushan for Nookala

Express News Service
Hyderabad, January 25:
Listen music and write down notation, this was the message to the budding
musicians by Nookala Chinna Satyanarayana, who was selected for the
prestigious Padma Bhushan citation this year.
Immediately after the announcement that Nookala was selected for Padma
Bhushan, scores of his disciples thronged his house in New Boyiguda in
Secunderabad and congratulated him.
Several popular musicians including Mangalampalli Balamurali Krishna called
up Chinna Satyanarana and congratulated him.
Satyanarayana's house wore a festive look as several young and seasoned
musicians descended his house with bouquets and fruits.
But, the humble Satyanarayana said that the citation goes to the ``pure
classicism'', which he had always practiced.
His advice to the learners was listen music and write down the notation.
However good singer one may be called `music illiterate' if he does not know
the notation of what he sings, Chinna Satyanarayana cautioned.
He said the classical music had finally got recognition, which hitherto
neglected by the government. He said that classical music was recognised by
people in Tamil Nadu, America, Canada and other countries. But, it was
totally neglected in `Telugu desam,' he lamented.
He suggested that the government should conduct music festivals and give
more awards to encourage classical music.
``I dedicate this citation to my parents, gurus and to classical music,''
he said.
Chinna Satyanarayana is a doyen and a multi faceted carnatic classical
musician. Gifted with a sonorous voice and great caliber he adheres to
classicism.
Chinna Satyanarana was born on 4th August, 1927 at Anakapalle. He has
started as violin student. Kambhampati Akkaji Rao, Mangalampally
Pattabhiramayya, Sripada Pinakapani were his teachers.
Nookala attracted by the violin legendary Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu and
learnt violin. Nookala accompanied Naidu on his concerts.
Nookala pepped up his style and unique new element of infusing the raga
bhava in every note, every phrase that adorned his Kriti's musical
structure.
He developed his own style of singing never departing from classicism, at
the same time justifying and beholding the beauty of 'raga' and the meaning
of the 'Kriti', with special emphasis to the diction of the Kriti which he
rendered.

One leader – Two strategies

One leader. Two strategies. Several brain storming meetings everyday. This
is the daily schedule of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) N Chandrababu Naidu, after
the Centre has decided to initiate the process of the T.
Naidu allowed his party leaders to adopt two different strategies for
Andhra and Telangana. The script writer for the both the strategies is none
other than Naidu, according to party sources.
Suffocated with the Centre's T-statement six days back, Naidu has been
holding separate meetings with Andhra and Telangana leaders.
TDP MLAs from Andhra and Rayalaseema, who announced that they would
continue the `Samaikya Andhra Pradesh' movement, in fact, met Naidu at his
residence and discussed the current political situation threadbaret with
him.
Telangana TDP MLAs, who appealed to Naidu to set up separate unit of the
party for Telangana, later met Naidu and apprised him of the situation.
Naidu's strategy was simple, to keep the party intact in both the regions
and win in the both the regions in the elections, if the state is carved
out.
``At last, Naidu come with an intelligent idea of starting party T-wing. He
also gave his nod to Andhra and Rayalaseema regions to go ahead with their
agitation to muster support for the party there. This is to keep alive the
party in both the regions,'' a party senior pleading anonymity told Express.
Naidu's strategy has a strong reason. Immediately after the Centre decided
to initiate the T-process, Vemulawada and Karimnagar MLAs resigned for the
party. If Naidu did not take any decision, there would be a possibility of
all the T-MLAs revolting against Naidu challenging his leadership. It will
done much damage to the party, which has already suffered a jolt from
Congress. Then, Naidu consulted senior Telangana leaders and worked out the
strategy and came out with idea of separate units for the party.
It means, NTR Bhavan itself will sponsor the agitations in both the
regions, though covertly, and see that dissidence will be nipped in the bud
in T region.
It may be noted that except the couple of MLAs who revolted against Naidu,
today no leader spoke harsh against the party president, after his nod for
separate party units.
Naidu told media persons that all the parties split vertically becasue of
the Congress' midnight announcement. ``We have no clues how to wriggle out
of the crisis,'' Naidu admitted.
It remains to be seen whether Naidu's latest `separatist' strategy will be
worked out perfercly or boomrang on the party.

The influence of number 13 on AP politics

The believers in numerology feel that number 13 is an unlucky one. But, the
number 13 is not totally unlucky and gives good results. The developments in
the state for the last four months are directly related to number 13.
The present Assembly is the 13th Assembly.
First, the negative impacts of number 13 in state politics. The 13th
Assembly has a government with simple majority. For the first time, the
State's Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy died an unnatural death. Reddy
died in a copter crash in the fourth month (if one add 1 and 3 the single
digit is 4) his rule in his second term. Reddy died on 29-9-2009 (all the
numbers added to single digit again it is 4).
Then Rosaiah took charge as Chief Minister of the state. Then, the
Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president K Chandrasekhara Rao started his
fast-unto-death to achieve separate Telangana state. The Union government's
statement that it will initiate the process for separate Telangana came in
the fourth month of Rosaiah's rule.
Then, MLAs of all parties from Andhra and Rayalseema MLAs submitted their
resignations, giving a tough time to Rosaiah government. But, the number
13th is not always unlucky and give good results and take the persons to new
heights. The number 13 represents a new age or a new order of things. It
will raze the conventional systems and usher in new set of things.
It means, that the 13th Assembly will be realised by the Congress
government. The value of Congress again come to a single digit 4. If the
Telangana is carved out in the present Assembly itself, K Rosaiah (again the
value of all the letters will be 4) will be the last Chief Minister of
united Andhra Pradesh.
Number 13 also has an important role in Punjabi culture, as the number
`tera' means `yours'. Congress may say to people of the region that
Telangana is yours.
There will be no hotel room with 13 in some countries and consider as they
consider is ill luck. Even some places they avoid 13 while giving
door-numbers. But, it should be noted that when the United States of America
was first formed the total number of states were 13. So, the 13th Assembly
besides its all bad things would create the new State Telangana.
There is also a talk in political circles that Mahatma Gandhi liberated the
country from the clutches of the British. Potti Sreeramulu was instrumental
in separating Andhra from composite Madras state. Now, Telangana will be
created during K Rosaiah's regime.

Will NTR Jr be TDP’s trump card?

VV Balakrishna
First Published : 30 Jan 2010 08:36:03 AM IST
Last Updated : 30 Jan 2010 11:36:29 AM IST

HYDERABAD,: Telugu Desam party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu, it appears, is laying a strong foundation for the future of the party. He is `building bridges’ with the NTR family with a longterm perspective to sustain the party in the State.

The regional party, founded 29 years ago, has seen several highs and lows during its chequered history. Now, remaining in the Opposition for the second consecutive term, the party needs a fresh appeal and approach to reach out to people. The Young Turks, who joined the party at the time of its inception, are past their prime now. Thus the party badly needs young blood and faces with some glamour that could fetch it votes. The deadwood in the party is no longer able to deliver at the time of elections.

As part of its efforts to sustain the party in the next three decades, Naidu is making all-out efforts to revive his `bond’ with NTR family.

He married off his only son Nara Lokesh to NTR’s granddaughter Brahmani. By consummating the marriage, Naidu moved close to film hero and Brahmani’s father Balakrishna.

Naidu inducted NTR’s another son Harikrishna into the party and made him a Member of Rajya Sabha. Now, he has fixed the marriage of NTR Jr to Lakshmi Pranati, the daughter of his niece.

Besides building bonds with NTR’s family, Naidu is also promoting his son Lokesh as an entrepreneur.

Lokesh has recently bought some stakes in a regional news channel and made a friend of his the CEO of the channel.

A look-alike of his grandfather, NTR Jr has a long career and bright future in the film industry.

He campaigned for the TDP in the recent Assembly elections.

``Like NTR Sr, NTR Jr too has a good fan following. NTR Sr united the people of Andhra Pradesh with his charisma. We badly need such a personality in the party now,’’ says a young MLA from Telangana. Only the young and popular actor can lift the party out of the morass it finds itself in and ensure a good future for it, he hopes fondly.

NTR Junior to wed TDP chief’s relative

Express News Service
First Published : 29 Jan 2010 04:18:41 AM IST
Last Updated :

HYDERABAD: Leading Tollywood actor NTR Jr (26) is getting married to Lakshmi Pranati, a close relative of TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu.

Lakshmi Pranati (18), who is studying Intermediate at a private college in the city, is the daughter of Narne Srinivas, owner of a regional news channel, Studio N and granddaughter of Naidu’s sister.

A ccording to sources, the Narne couple met Naidu at his residence on Wednesday and NTR Jr on Thursday to clinch the alliance. The young hero finally agreed to marry Pranati.

The engagement is due in March and the wedding will take place in May. Local channels quoted Chandrababu Naidu as confirming the alliance.

According to the grapevine, Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh has acquired some stakes in Studio N recently and one of Lokesh’s friends is the chief executive officer of the channel. NTR Jr campaigned for the TDP in the recent Assembly elections.

During the campaign he met with an accident.

After recovering from the back pain, the actor is busy shooting for Brundavanam being produced by Dil Raju. He also signed for Sakti to be produced by Vyjayanti Movies and both the films will be completed in May.

TD prefers to wait for official word on T panel

Express News Service
First Published : 29 Jan 2010 04:29:59 AM IST
Last Updated : 29 Jan 2010 10:47:43 AM IST

HYDERABAD: The Telugu Desam party (TDP) is now waiting for an official announcement on formation of a committee on Telangana since Union Home Minister P Chidamabaram’s statement earlier in the day was `bereft of vital details’’ like when the proposed committee would be constituted to untie the Telagnana tangle.

TDP Telangana MLAs met at NTR Bhavan today and later met party chief N Chandrababu Naidu. In a guarded reaction, the Telangana TDP leaders said that they were waiting for the official announcement from the Central Government.

“We do not know the composition of the committee. We do not know the details of the committee.

We will react only after the Centre made a concrete statement,’’ said TDP Politburo member N Janardhan Reddy.

“But whatever decision the Joint Action Committee (JAC) will take, the TDP will abide by it,’’ he declared.

However, some leaders felt that the process for Telangana had already started and it would be expedited with the committee to be announced in this week.

However, others felt that the appointment of the committee was nothing but delaying tactics of the Centre which was desperate to wriggle out of the present crisis.

When the TDP MLAs met today, the worry before them was if the Congress did not honour the decision taken by the JAC on mass resignations, the Assembly Speaker may accept the resignations of the TDP, which would create trouble for the TDP. Now, with the Centre all set to appoint a committee on Telangana, the TDP is confused.

It does not know whether the Congress will adopt delaying tactics or announce a time-frame for formation of Telangana. The TDP will react only after the intentions of the Congress become clear.

Some Andhra TDP leaders, on the other hand, said that they would oppose the proposed committee if it was intended only to carve out separate Tealngana.

“The committee should take the opinions of all the stakeholders and should not limit its purpose to bifurcate the State,’’ Gali Muddukrishnama Naidu said.

Babu sticks to double game

Express News Service

First Published : 21 Jan 2010 04:54:00 AM IST

Last Updated :

HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam president N Chandrbabau Naidu today advised his party MLAs from both Telangana and Andhra against taking impulsive decisions on agitation for Telangana or United Andhra but to watch the steps being taken by the ruling Congress and bring pressure on the ruling party.

Naidu made this suggestion during his separate meetings with party leaders after the scheduled Politburo meeting was postponed in view of the Telangana bandh. The Politburo wanted to discuss the party’s membership drive to be launched in the State by the end of this month.

Naidu also advised his party leaders to involve the Congress in the agitations in both the regions.

He wanted Telangana MLAs to bring pressure on the Congress MLAs to submit their resignations in favour of Telangana. It may be recalled that all the 39 MLAs from Telangana resigned in favour of Telangana while 42 MLAs of the Congress and MIM did not put in their papers. Naidu cautioned party MLAs against pressing for acceptance of their resignations if the Congress MLAs did not submit their resignations.

The Telangana JAC demanded the resignations of all the peoples’ representatives from Telangana.

If the Congress did not abide by the JAC’s decision, the TDP too should not press for the acceptance of their resignations, he said.

The TDP chief advised Andhra MLAs to involve the Congress in the United Andhra struggle.

Though the TDP wanted to float a JAC of Andhra political parties, the Congress decided not to join it. Naidu, therefore, wanted Andhra TDP leaders not to take any hasty step without the involvement of the Congress. According to his strategy, The TDP will expose the Congress both in the two regions.

In Telangana, TDP leaders accuse the ruling party for not keeping its word on creating separate Telangana and in Andhra the local leaders tell people that Chidambaram’s statement fuelled trouble in the State.

Stumble

Comments

Naidu's manipulative politics had produced favourable results in the past. Future can never be extrapolation of past. On T-issue his ambigous and evasive stand may prove very costly for him. WIth this attitude he may fade into history as person non-grata.

By nhk
1/21/2010 3:18:00 PM

Professors leading movements a welcome change

VV Balakrishna
First Published : 05 Jan 2010 03:31:00 AM IST
Last Updated :

HYDERABAD: Professors have not limited themselves to spurring on students but have taken an active part in the ongoing struggle for separate Telangana State, turning it into a people’s movement by pushing politicos into corner.

Moreover, politicians didn’t object to Prof. M Kodandaram heading the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of political parties for separate Telangna, perhaps, realising that people had lost faith in them.

May be, they have stepped back respecting people’s sentiments and conceded leadership to a professor.

``I do not believe in politicians that they will achieve separate Telangana,’’ opined a student, who participated in the Vidyarthi Garjana yesterday in the city. Humble and soft spoken in nature, Kodandaram has successfully been coordinating the politicians of various parties with different ideologies. It seems, they have no qualms to work under the leadership of an educationist.

G Haragopal, a retired professor who taught political science at the University of Hyderabad and Kakatiya University, remarked that a professor leading a JAC of politicians was a welcome change.

``It is another social process,’’ he said endorsing the leadership of his colleague. For that matter, Haragopal himself took a proactive role in the ongoing Telangana movement by supporting students, who vowed to continue the agitation till Telangana was carved out. It may be mentioned that Jayashankar, a retired professor of Kakatiya University has been in the forefront of Telangana movement. He has been the ideologue of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), whose main agenda is to achieve separate State.

Terming `professors leading the movement’ a welcome sign, the Telangana NGOs president K Swamy Goud attributed the development to their credibility. May be taking cue from Telangana movement, United Andhra JAC of politicians which has been opposing bifurcation of the State decided to work under the leadership of professor Samuel from Nagarjuna University. It appears, people are gradually losing faith in politicos and parties and the void is being filled by professors.

vvbalakrishna@expressbuz.com

TDP deputes Yanamala, Revuri to present its view

VV Balakrishna
First Published : 05 Jan 2010 03:01:00 AM IST
Last Updated :

HYDERABAD: The Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has deputed Narasampet MLA Revuri Prakash Reddy and former Assembly speaker Yanamala Ramakrishnudu for the all-party meeting convened by the Centre on the Telangana issue in Delhi on Tuesday.

Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu, after consulting party’s senior leaders from Telangana and Andhra regions, cleared their names.

According to sources, the TDP will not deviate from its pro-Telangana stand. Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, who belongs to the Andhra region, is unlikley to press for a United Andhra and more likely to blame the Congress for the unrest in the State.

The party’s line of argument is going to be that Chidambaram’s Dec 9 statement is responsible for the political crisis gripping the State and the Congress, being the ‘‘culprit,’’ should resolve the issue. Party leaders hope that this way, the party will get a clean image while putting the onus on the Congress.

As for its own stand on the Telangana issue, the TDP will more or less adopt the same policy as the Congress.

‘‘We will ask the Congress to speak first tomorrow. The same stand will be followed by the TDP,’’ a party senior told Express.

According to sources, Revuri Prakash Reddy will press for a separate Telangana and demand that the Centre expedite the process for its creation. A TDP Telangana leader said the party would present its pro- Telangana stand at the Delhi meet.

Several leaders from Andhra were part of the core committee and politburo, when the party took a pro-Telangana stand, he pointed out.

Ramakrishnudu, however, did not spell out what his assignment would be in Delhi tomorrow and left without speaking to mediapersons. “I will speak to you after the talks in Delhi tomorrow,” he said.

Prakash Reddy is a former House Committee chairman on GO 610. As the Congress representative from Telangana N Uttam Kumar Reddy too had worked as chairman of the House Committee on GO 610, the TDP decided to depute a leader with a similar background. Reddy had also submitted his resignation as an MLA, immediately after the second statement of Chidambaram.

OU was packed by JAC's mammoth meeting for 'T'

VV Balakrishna

First Published : 04 Jan 2010 09:36:58 AM IST

Last Updated : 04 Jan 2010 10:34:13 AM IST

HYDERABAD: Ahead of the January 5 all-party meeting in New Delhi on the Telangana issue, scores of students from all parts of the region held a mammoth meeting on the campus of the Osmania University here on Sunday in an attempt to force the Centre to carve out a separate State of Telangana.Christened as Vidyarthi Garjana, the meeting was organised by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the OU students.Every inch of the sprawling campus was occupied by students since afternoon itself and their numbers kept swelling as batch after batch began pouring in. By 3 p.m., the campus was flooded with students.Though police prevented students, who did not possess identity cards from entering the campus, it soon became choc a bloc. The entire foreground of the Arts College was packed with highly charged students.They rent the air with slogans of Jai Telangana even as speakers demanded Telangana State from the main dais and folk dancers gave that extra bit of emotional inspiration from a second dais. Political parties, who were prevented from taking part in the meet, claimed that a large number of students were stopped while they were on their way to Hyderabad from different places under the pretext that they had no ID cards.There was no charismatic leader with crowd pulling abilities and yet, students poured in continuously. As the speakers at the public meeting mocked at TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, Vijayawada Congress MP Lagadapati Rajagopal and PRP president Chiranjeevi for their stand on bifurcation of the State, the audience cheered lustily. The message given by leaders including, JAC (political) convenor K Kodanda Ram, Varavara Rao (VIRASAM) and Manda Krishna Madiga (MRPS), focussed only on carrying forward the Telangana movement.The appeal of student leaders M Anil Kumar, T Srikanth Rao and P Rao (all JAC members) was crisp and simple: Rest not till a Telangana State is formed.Though the police and the State Government feared breakdown of law and order, the students conducted themselves admirably in deference to the directions of the High Court and ended the meeting at 6.30 p.m. Even normal arguments with the police, a common occurrence on such occasions, were absent.Without the support of any political party, the students were able to easily organise as massive a public meeting as the Garjana. They kept aside their union flags, sinking their union rivalry and held placards of Jai Telangana.Recalling that Prafulla Kumar Mohanta, who, as a student led the Assam Gana Parishad (AGP) and later became Chief Minister of the State, a student saw a bright future for the student movement: ‘‘Why not? A student of the Osmania University may one day become the Chief Minister of a separate Telangana State.’’

TDP again displays T schizophrenia

Express News Service
First Published : 03 Jan 2010 03:10:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 03 Jan 2010 10:21:54 AM IST

HYDERABAD: With just three days to go for the all-party meeting called by the Centre on T-issue, the TDP once again presented before the media its split personality on the bifurcation issue.

While its Telangana leaders fully endorsed the JAC’s viewpoint and decided to exert pressure on the Centre to achieve a separate State, the Andhra leaders demanded postponement of the meeting till “normalcy prevailed in the State’’.

Further, the Andhra leaders decided to release a white paper in a couple days on the “development of the three regions’’ which indicates that they will argue that Telangana witnessed rapid progress as compared to Srikakulam, Anantapur and other districts.

The January 5 meeting could well see the TDP continue in the same vein, presenting diametrically opposite views.

The Andhra TDP leaders are to participate in the Andhra bandh on January 4, while the Telangana leaders will take part in the agitations announced by the JAC and also support the Vidyardhi Garjana on the Osmania University campus.

Going along with the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of political parties, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLAs have decided to insist on the acceptance of their resignations by the Assembly Speaker as this would be the only way to exert pressure on the Centre for statehood.

Speaking to reporters here today, TDP politburo member N Janardhan Reddy urged the JAC to convene a meeting of MLAs and MPs of all parties and direct all the MLAs to tender their resignations to the Speaker.

He also demanded unconditional lifting of all cases registered against students as assured by the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, and deplored the filing of new cases despite the home minister’s assurance to the contrary.

Questioning the sincerity of ministers who had withdrawn their resignations, Janardhan Reddy asked why they had sent a single sheet to the AICC president, instead of separate letters. Meanwhile, TDP leaders from Andhra and Rayalaseema have demanded that the proposed January 5 meeting be postponed as the situation in the State was “still volatile’.

At a separate press meet, legislators D Narendra Kumar, B Gopalakrishna Reddy and others opposed the Jan 5 meeting at this juncture as the people of both the regions were “emotionally charged’’. They blamed AICC president Sonia Gandhi for the turmoil in the State and also urged the State Government to publicise a white paper stating expenditures on three regions of the State right since its formation.

At another press conference, politburo member K Yerran Naidu said the TDP would release a district-wise white paper on development of all regions from 1953 to 2009, including budgetary allocations, growth rate and other details.

He maintained that the three north coastal Andhra districts were the most backward, as per the “latest statistics’’ released by the government.

Call for pen-down strike on Jan 4, 5

Express News Service
First Published : 03 Jan 2010 03:26:00 AM IST
Last Updated :

HYDERABAD: A round-table meeting of students, employees and people’s organisations called upon the Government employees to organise `pen-down’ strike on January 4 and 5 to echo the sentiments of Telangana people in Delhi in the wake of Centre’s talks with political parties on January 5.

The round-table meeting was chaired by Telangana NGOs Association president Swamy Goud.

The meeting called upon the people to organise `Palle satyagrahas’ in all the villages on Jan 4 and dharnas before all the mandal offices and district Collectorates on Jan 5.

The meeting appealed to the people to organise candlelight protests on the two major roads connecting Andhra and Rayalaseema with a request to the people of Andhra that: ``Let us divide in a peaceful manner’’.

TNGOs said that they have decided to organise pen down strike demanding that the political parties should represent the aspirations of Telangana people in Delhi on Jan 5. The Delhi meeting should evolve a roadmap for starting the process of Telangana. They also demanded that the State Government to lift all the cases against students as announced by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.

T-organisations vow to continue stir

Express News Service
First Published : 03 Jan 2010 03:19:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 03 Jan 2010 10:21:40 AM IST

HYDERABAD: Notwithstanding the Centre’s decision on Telangana, various organisations today resolved to continue their agitations till the separate State is realised.

A round-table meeting was held at TNGOs office here today, chaired by its president K Swamy Goud.

The meeting was held to discuss tomorrow’s Vidyarthi Garjana and Jan 5 meeting in Delhi.

In the five-hour-long meeting, as many as 49 speakers, stressed the need for continuing the agitation for Telangana. They said that they could not trust the political parties as they adopted a duel stand and wanted the people to carry forward the agitation. They also demanded that the State should accord permission for tomorrow’s student rally. If the police prevented the meeting of students in OU campus, the people would organise similar meetings at all places, they said Virasam leader P Vara Vara Rao speaking on the occasion said that people’s organisations should exert pressure on the Government for Telangana. ``If we leave the matter to Delhi, Telangana will not be realised,’’ he said. ``Several resolutions were passed in the Legislative bodies and they were later found their way to dustbins. Telangana would not be carved out with mere a resolution and the people should continue their relentless movement till the State is realised,’’ he cautioned.

Exposing the stand of various political parties, Vara Vara Rao faulted the Congress for not announcing its stand so far. The TDP and the Congress may ask each other to spell their stand first on Telangana on Jan 5 meeting.

He felt that the Election Commission should cancel the recognition of PRP, which made a U-turn on Telangana, against its manifesto.

He also advised T-agitators to create awareness among the people of Andhra region that the Tmovement was not against the people of Andhra as such.

Ap p o i n t i n g E S L Narasimhan as Governor, Vara Vara Rao said that the State was under police rule now.

Prof G Haragopal said that the January 5 meeting was a final test for political parties. ``It is now up to the political parties to decide whether they follow the people or distance themselves from the people,’’ he said.

Haragopal said that people themselves are leading the T-agitation. He said that the Telangana Ministers who failed to give permission to the student rallies were unfit to be continued as ministers.

Prof Kodandaram, convenor of JAC of political parties, said that they were making efforts to bring a rapport between the people’s organisations and the political parties.

Balladeer Gaddar, MLC Chukka Ramaiah, Kesavarao Jadav, Uma Devi, Andesri, Virasam Ratnamala, journalists Potturi Venkateswara Rao, Allam Narayana, Dr Gopalakishan, N Venugopal and others spoke.

Parties doing ‘cuckoo’ act on T State

VV Balakrishna
First Published : 01 Jan 2010 03:59:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 01 Jan 2010 04:01:40 AM IST

HYDERABAD: Cuckoo, cuckoo, what do you do? In April I open my bill; In May I sing all day; In June I change my tune; In July away I fly; In August away I must.
Going by this rhyme, it can be said that political parties in the State have been doing nothing less than the cuckoo act on the question of Statehood for Telangana.
For many years, the Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had opposed the formation of Telangana tooth and nail. It had even sent a letter to the Pranab Mukherjee committee stating how "dangerous" it was to bifurcate the State.
Later, it changed tack and, with the zeal of a new convert, began pressing for a separate State, urging the Congress to introduce a resolution to that effect in the State Legislative Assembly.
But the December 9 statement of Union Home Minister Chidmabaram stunned the party into taking a U-turn. Then, perhaps realising the ridiculous position that it had landed itself in, the party took a half-U-turn -- adopting one position in the Andhra region and its diametric opposite in Telangana.
There was another twist of sorts with the TDP saying consultations were the only solution to the problem. But when the Centre did precisely that, inviting the parties for deliberations on January 5, the yellow party is now saying that it would be nothing but a time-consuming proposition. The Centre, it says, should introduce a Bill straightaway in Parliament and announce a time-frame for carving out a separate State.
``Introduce a bill in Parliament. Where is the need for talks now?'' asks TDP leader E Dayakar Rao.
No less unedifying was the flip-flop enacted by the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) which went back on its "Saamajika Telangana" slogan and is now plumping for "United Andhra".
That politics is a matter of expediency and very rarely of principle is borne out by this cynical remark from a TDP legislator: ``Politics are changing every minute. So parties take decisions accordingly.'' Well, that's how it goes with the cuckoos...