Andhra Businesses Cut Up on Creation of Telangana was a front-page article in ET
on October 10, 2011. But can they stop it? This article is based on an
ET survey. The reasons for the Andhra Big business' opposition to the
formation of Telangana are not clear in the article. But there are some
clues to their opposition, which is certainly not based on logic, ethics
or concerns of the traditional business.
Every business enterprise wants to optimise profit over capital. For that, the business will look into various aspects such location, availability of raw material, workforce, access to markets, policy framework, etc. As long these fundamentals are not going to change, Andhra big business or small business should not be concerned or interfere into other aspects.
Establishing the state of Telangana is a political process. No matter what business thinks, democratic countries have to run based on people's opinion and aspirations within the constitutional framework. Asking for and establishing the Telangana state is well within the preview of Indian Constitution.
Establishing the state of Telangana is certainly not going to change anything on which the Andhra Big Business was established in Hyderabad or anywhere else. If they established their companies on the assumption that the state will never be restructured, they were wrong. However, business is entitled to articulate its concerns that lead to fundamental changes in their business operations.
The ET survey does include one such question (No. 3) that categorically asks about shifting their business in the event of Telangana formation. The answer is clear: they will not move and will choose to remain in Hyderabad. Telangana state or otherwise, as soon a business is not viable, they will move or close. That is bound to happen anywhere.
The Andhra business lobby with its biggest moneybags is threatening the core value of Indian democracy. That is the reason why the Congress is dragging its feet on starting the process of establishing the state of Telangana as announced by the home minister, in both Houses of Parliament almost two years ago.
Every responsible citizen in this country needs to ask one simple question: is the Indian government for sale for the biggest moneybags of Andhra business interests? The formation of Telangana is not division of the country, but only one more step in decentralisation of power. By every yardstick, Telangana is a completely viable state and it will be bigger than the existing 15 states including West Bengal and Kerala.
More than 40 million Telangana people, including almost all elected representatives from most of the parties, want a separate state. How many guns are required to silence the 40 million people? Already, more than 700 young people have committed suicide. How long will this violence continue? Has the Andhra big business ever thought about that?
Actually, there is no government in AP. This is not due to the sakala janula samme (general strike), but it is because the AP government today has lost trust of its 40 million people. There is no moral authority or legal base for the AP government. More than 120 elected representatives from Telangana resigned.
Their resignations have not been accepted by the Speaker who hails from the Andhra region. Recently, more than 73 elected MLAs have resigned for a second time and more than 10 MPs from Telangana region, including ruling Congress MPs, have resigned. Where is the government?
The line between big business and politics has been eroding in the country very fast, which is more evident in AP. For example, take one of the big three companies ET mentioned: Lanco Infratech. The company is pouring money into the anti-Telangana campaign. They are one among the major beneficiaries in a questionable way of accruing land and other resources in Telangana. Public properties have been fast converted into private properties.
Finally, three things: one, Telangana state will be established. That is certain. It is impossible to ignore 40 million people for too long. Establishing Telangana state is the only solution that will ensure stability to big business and industry, including Andhra's big business.
There are many business leaders in Hyderabad who are not part of this big moneybags campaign to realise that some of their own are attempting to scuttle the democratic and peaceful process of establishing the Telangana state. They should come out and influence the government to establish Telangana.
Two, Hyderabad, with or without Andhra big business, will prosper and develop at a much more rapid pace. The Telangana state surely will clean some of the manipulative big businesses. The new state will create a good business atmosphere to establish a level playing field for others. International capital can also flow into the region. The people of Telangana are fighting for better life.
Finally Andhra big business should realise that its influence with big moneybags has actually damaged the interests of both people of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. They should now stop fiddling around with the democratic process. There is still an opportunity for them to become a part of the solution. The ET article clearly articulated that establishing two states is great opportunity for growth in both regions.
Telugu-speaking people need not be forced to live in one state just for the sake of business interest of some individuals. Surely, we can live peacefully in two states. That is what the people of Telangana want: democracy, peace and prosperity. Forcing them through manipulation will further lead to divisions. That we all should avoid, including business and industry.
Every business enterprise wants to optimise profit over capital. For that, the business will look into various aspects such location, availability of raw material, workforce, access to markets, policy framework, etc. As long these fundamentals are not going to change, Andhra big business or small business should not be concerned or interfere into other aspects.
Establishing the state of Telangana is a political process. No matter what business thinks, democratic countries have to run based on people's opinion and aspirations within the constitutional framework. Asking for and establishing the Telangana state is well within the preview of Indian Constitution.
Establishing the state of Telangana is certainly not going to change anything on which the Andhra Big Business was established in Hyderabad or anywhere else. If they established their companies on the assumption that the state will never be restructured, they were wrong. However, business is entitled to articulate its concerns that lead to fundamental changes in their business operations.
The ET survey does include one such question (No. 3) that categorically asks about shifting their business in the event of Telangana formation. The answer is clear: they will not move and will choose to remain in Hyderabad. Telangana state or otherwise, as soon a business is not viable, they will move or close. That is bound to happen anywhere.
The Andhra business lobby with its biggest moneybags is threatening the core value of Indian democracy. That is the reason why the Congress is dragging its feet on starting the process of establishing the state of Telangana as announced by the home minister, in both Houses of Parliament almost two years ago.
Every responsible citizen in this country needs to ask one simple question: is the Indian government for sale for the biggest moneybags of Andhra business interests? The formation of Telangana is not division of the country, but only one more step in decentralisation of power. By every yardstick, Telangana is a completely viable state and it will be bigger than the existing 15 states including West Bengal and Kerala.
More than 40 million Telangana people, including almost all elected representatives from most of the parties, want a separate state. How many guns are required to silence the 40 million people? Already, more than 700 young people have committed suicide. How long will this violence continue? Has the Andhra big business ever thought about that?
Actually, there is no government in AP. This is not due to the sakala janula samme (general strike), but it is because the AP government today has lost trust of its 40 million people. There is no moral authority or legal base for the AP government. More than 120 elected representatives from Telangana resigned.
Their resignations have not been accepted by the Speaker who hails from the Andhra region. Recently, more than 73 elected MLAs have resigned for a second time and more than 10 MPs from Telangana region, including ruling Congress MPs, have resigned. Where is the government?
The line between big business and politics has been eroding in the country very fast, which is more evident in AP. For example, take one of the big three companies ET mentioned: Lanco Infratech. The company is pouring money into the anti-Telangana campaign. They are one among the major beneficiaries in a questionable way of accruing land and other resources in Telangana. Public properties have been fast converted into private properties.
Finally, three things: one, Telangana state will be established. That is certain. It is impossible to ignore 40 million people for too long. Establishing Telangana state is the only solution that will ensure stability to big business and industry, including Andhra's big business.
There are many business leaders in Hyderabad who are not part of this big moneybags campaign to realise that some of their own are attempting to scuttle the democratic and peaceful process of establishing the Telangana state. They should come out and influence the government to establish Telangana.
Two, Hyderabad, with or without Andhra big business, will prosper and develop at a much more rapid pace. The Telangana state surely will clean some of the manipulative big businesses. The new state will create a good business atmosphere to establish a level playing field for others. International capital can also flow into the region. The people of Telangana are fighting for better life.
Finally Andhra big business should realise that its influence with big moneybags has actually damaged the interests of both people of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. They should now stop fiddling around with the democratic process. There is still an opportunity for them to become a part of the solution. The ET article clearly articulated that establishing two states is great opportunity for growth in both regions.
Telugu-speaking people need not be forced to live in one state just for the sake of business interest of some individuals. Surely, we can live peacefully in two states. That is what the people of Telangana want: democracy, peace and prosperity. Forcing them through manipulation will further lead to divisions. That we all should avoid, including business and industry.
No comments:
Post a Comment