Chidambaram's apathy

Yesterday's press conference of Mr.Chidambaram. My reply in bold text.
Q: Congress MLAs and MPs from Telangana tendered their resignations. Do you feel that the situation is really out of control now?

A: I dont think there's anything that's gone out of control. The MPs and MLAs have forewarned us that they are obliged to tender their resignations on the fourth of July. This has not come as a surprise for us. Meanwhile the party's general secretary in-charge is talking to the Telangana MLAs and MPs... the MPs are here and the MLAs are in Hyderabad. We're in touch with them. I don't think we need to get alarmed about this development. They have given expression to a view that they hold very strongly... but I think we'll be able to persuade them to be patient and to allow the consultation process to continue.

Me: When was the situation under control, to now go out of control? So the'out of control' situation is not gone out of control.  If you look at it, the statement also is an indication that the Congress High Command bothers least for Telangana leaders leave alone Telangana people. 'Chiddu' says that they were forewarned by the T-leaders and they were obliged to express their views. But they cared a damn for it and sent Mr. Azad to prepare them for the ensuing Council - a reinvention of TRC of 1956.

Q: Mr. Chidambaram, the congress MLAs and MPs are quoting your 9th December statement and asking why the government is going back on its own word? That's why they are giving the resignations.

A: For the last time, let me say the 9th December is not an individual's statement. It was a statement made on behalf of a Governement. But, on 23rd Decemeber it had issued another statement telling why it had to put the 9th December statement on hold and start a process of consultation. So, whenever you refer to the 9th December statement kindly also refer to the Dec 23 statement.

Me: You made equal a fifteen day anti-Telangana agitation to a 60 year old Telangana Statehood movement. All familiar story for us Mr. Home Minister. Andhras always weigh more in your justice balance than us, Mr. Advocate.

Q: You said your party in-charge is in a dialogue with resigned representatives. Representatives from TDP also resigned. How do you deal with them? You promised of another all-party meeting six months ago. How long will it take to conduct that meeting?

A: Well, I can not comment on the resignation of an MLA belonging to TDP party. I don't think any MLA should resign. But that's for the leader of the TDP to deal with that. Yes. We'll hold an all-party meeting. At least two parties which are not yet ready with their final views. Once I get the indication that they are ready to give their final view, immediately the meeting will be called.

Me: I think you were addressing the press as the Home Minister of the country and not as a Congress spokesperson. The TDP leader doesn't need any advice from you as how to control their MLAs. He is more than a match for you Mr. Minister. It was a crisis created by the Central government and the T-TDP MLAs have resigned because you did a volte face with your decision on 23rd December. And you owe an explanation.

Q: WHat is the Central government's view on the Telangana issue. You have received Srikrishna Committee report. What's your action on that?

A: The central government's view will be made known after the consultation process is over.WE have to bring everybody on board. There are strong views of a large number of people. We're trying to work out a consensus. If I had the central government's view today, I'd have told that before. right? The central government is yet to take a final decision.

Me: Strong views of who Mr. Minister? Consensus on what? Consensus only on creation of seperate State? Should it be ok if there was no consensus for the Andhra Pradesh to continue?

Q: Then, how do you assuage the feelings of Telangana representatives?

A: By talking to them.

Me: 'Tall talk' really!

Q: But you have been talking to them for a long time, and that's why they resorted to these resignations.

A: we'll continue to talk to them until a consensus emerges.

Me: No time is too long for you 'Kumbhakarnas'.

Q: (in Hindi) Mr. Home Minister, in the name of consultations you can not take very long time. There should be a deadline to it. More than a year has passed. They say they can not wait for more time.

A: I understand, I understatnd their impatience. But these are complex issues. We'll try to expedite the consultation process. We'll try to take a final call. But these are extremely sensitive and complex issues. Therefore one has to have this understanding and patience, especially the media.

Me: We understood that you didn't understand the question Mr.Chidambaram.

Q: But, your party is famous for resolving complex issues.

A: (Kapil Sibal) We accept that compliment.

(Chidambaram) That's why they vote us back to power.

Me: Oh, you understood it that way, Mr. Sibal? You see a compliment in this?

Q: But Telangana people are suffering..

A: We'll talk to them... repeats

Me: You talk more on talking rather than actually 'talking', Mr. Chidambaram!

Q: There are 80 companies of forces and majority of them in Telangana. So there's a feeling that the centre is not going to implement its promise. And that's why all these MLAs and MPs are resinging.
 A: That's your conclusion. As I said the Governement has not yet taken a view.

Me: If only we knew your conclusion could we put a lid on our thoughts, Your Highness!

Q: Are you pulling these MLAs and MPs not to precipitate a crisis?

A: Yes, the general secretary in-charge and other leaders are talking to these MPs, MLAs and MLCs and let's wait for the outcome.

Me: Was that pulling or bullying, Mr. Minister?

Telangana 'Mir Jafars'!!

History repeats itself! Because Humans reproduce themselves!! Following the Telangana's unprecedented struggle for creation of a new State for the region invariably reminds us of several epoch-making events of the History. The English East India Company - a trading company at the outset could later rule the country for 2 centuriess because of traitorous Indians siding with them at the very critical moments. The Battle of Plassey, undoubtedly the decisive battle that paved the way for British rule in India is a case in point.

The EIC, initially was interested in getting trade concessions from the Emperors of India and Nawabs of Bengal. They got the privileges in the form of duty-free trade by means of  dastaks. Dastaks are like passes which will be given to the Company. The passes were not to be used by the officials for their private trade. However, the greedy Company officials started misusing the passes and even started selling them to other Indian traders thereby depriving the Indian rulers huge tax money. Worse still, they started levying exorbitant taxes on Indian goods and Indian merchants. However, Bengal with a streak of able and self-respecting rulers  did not tolerate this. Siraj-ud-daula, the young Bengal ruler attacked the British cantonments and factories and made them to flee to an island - Fulta island - in the Bay of Bengal. The Young Nawab was amateurish in celebrating the victory while the cunning British were cooking the conspiracies from the sea. The British realized that they needed a puppet as the Nawab for their interests to be served unhindered. 

Robert Clive who fought battles against the French successfully was deputed to fight the young Nawab - Siraj-ud-daula. Clive used treachery as his main weapon. He induced Mir Jafar - a commander in Siraj's army with the Throne of Bengal if he colludes with the British. Mir Jafar along with some other traitors sided with the British and turned the guns against their own Bengal Army. The Battle of Plassey was no exhibition of strength but of treachery, to state the obvious fact. The victorious British instated Mir Jafar as the Nawab. The puppet Nawab reciprocated with humongous amount of money as war indemnity and bribes to the British officials. But Mir Jafar soon realised his folly and knew that the thirst for the money and presents of the British can never be quenched. When Mir Jafar started to question this, he was removed from the office citing incompetence as reason. He was replaced by another puppet ruler Mir Qasim. Unlike Mir Jafar, Qasim was quick to reassert the independence of the Nawab much to the displeasure of the British. Then in Battle of Buxar the Nawab was defeated to be reinstated by Mir Jafar again. Followed that was history - that looked 'an eternal gloom for India '!  

  

Though separated by centuries in time, the Telangana political leaders of the day are playing Mir Jafar of that age. When the shameless Seemandhra leaders took to coercion and did a volte face within hours of the Decemer 9th  statement from the Governement of India, the Telangana leaders withdrew from performing their Dhrama. Worse still, some of them became hand-in-glove with the Seemandhra leadership targeting those who are relentless in their fight for the Statehood. The Seemandhra leaders' colonial doctrine of 'divide and rule' was put in place and these leaders are more than willing to play Mir Jafar. The subservient Telangana TDP leaders' attacks on people questioning their party's stand on the issue and the chameleon Babu's veiled contempt for the pro-Telangana TDP leaders deserved them the title Mir Jafar in 'Group category'. The acceptance of Deputy CM post by Damodara Rajnarsimha, Deputy Speaker post by Bhatti Vikramarka is another case in point. When hundreds of agitators died and thousands put their life at risk participating in the movement these spineless leaders once again bargained self respect for the power. The irony of the Telangana movement is that people's fight for throwing the Seemandhra vested interests yoke resulted in the selection of their puppets to the high office!  Another duo of Danam Nagender and Mukesh Goud have been living Mir Jafar to the core. But the 'Best Mir Jafar enactment' must go to Sangareddy MLA T. Jayaprakash Reddy.  When the Congress leaders announced their decision to resign en masse, he became the lone hope for the Seemadhra leaders and vested interests - not to forget the Seemandhra news channels. Can't help but feel pity of the anti-Telangana movement! 

   

There were Mir Jafars. There are and there will be. Time and space may differ but their modus operandi remains the same just as their masters' barbaric means to achieve the rapacious ends. What would also not change is the ignominy they face at the end of the story!