Friend Turns Foe, Pans KCR's Rule
HYDERABAD: The Telangana Political Joint Action Committee(TJAC), a non-political group of intellectuals and an ally of the TRS during statehood movement, appears to have withdrawn its friendly support towards the TRS government.
The outfit, which had hitherto refrained from expressing its discontent over the policies of the government, is coming out all guns blazing to signal the end of its long camaraderie that existed with the TRS. After a recent steering committee meeting, the TJAC chairman Prof M Kodandaram said, “We have waited for the government to act on several counts. But, we will not delay any further in raising people’s issues.” During the statehood movement Kodandaram and KCR had been the poster boys for the Telangana cause, raising speculation that KCR might accommodate the latter in a respectable position if the TRS was elected to power. However, that was not to be and the ‘friends’ parted ways once Telangana became a reality.
Though he may not join a political party soon, indications are that Kodandaram is mobilising civil society organisations and other groups to launch massive protests against the TRS government. “TJAC is not a political party. If there is anything good, we will certainly appreciate it. But, if their (TRS) policies turn out to be bad for people, we will certainly protest against them,” said the TJAC chairman.
Though care is being taken by the TJAC leaders to refrain from heaping harsh criticism, the non-political group has begun finding fault with the TRS government in addressing the agrarian crisis and unemployment issue. Kodandaram has put the blame squarely on the TRS government for the ongoing farmers’ suicides in the state, and he even threatened to expose the government. “Yes, this government may not be totally responsible for the ongoing farmers’ suicides. But, the government’s act of denying the farmers’ suicides is unfortunate. It is time to take up responsibility and come up with solutions,” said Kodandaram.
The massive unemployment across the state is another issue which is being taken up by the organisation. Though the government had formed the Telangana Public Service Commission and announced that the first notification will be issued soon for over 15,000 jobs, the progress on the front is anything but impressive. “The KCR-led government had promised three lakh jobs in its manifesto. But, now it says there are only 1.07 lakh jobs. This approach is certainly going to result in consternation among unemployed youth,” said Mallepalli Lakshmaiah, a TJAC key member.
The state government’s recent-proposals like relocating the state Secretariat from the present location to Erragadda Chest Hospital and plans to pull down heritage buildings have also contributed to the widening gap between the two outfits. KCR’s attitude to draw every issue of the state into loggerheads with the Andhra Pradesh government too had added to the rift.
Of all the things, the TJAC is angered at the way KCR is ‘deliberately’ working out to wipe out Telangana ideologue Late Kothapalli Jayashankar from the Telanagana iconography. Revered across the political spectrum, Jayashankar is remembered for his efforts to achieve Telangana and considered a best bet to enjoy the Telangana Jathipitha (Father of Telangana) honour. TJAC and its members do not take it well when KCR’s followers hail him as the Telangana Jathipitha.