KCR Warns Of Movement If Governor Takes Over

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao informed Governor E S L Narsimhan in no uncertain terms that any attempt to invoke Section 8 of the A P Reorganization Act under duress from AP CM Chandrababu Naidu would not be acceptable to the Telangana government.

The Telangana CM is understood to have made this clear to the Governor during his hour-long meeting with the latter at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday morning in the wake of reports about the advice given by the Attorney-General of India Mukul Rohatgi on the special powers bestowed upon the Governor under Section 8 of the APRA.

The explanation given in the Act for Section 8 is "for the purpose of administration of common capital area (in this case Hyderabad), the Governor shall have special responsibility for the security of life, liberty and property of all those who reside in such area."

It is further explained in the Act that the responsibility of the Governor would extend to matters such as law and order, internal security and security to vital installations, and management and allocation of government buildings in the common capital area.

In discharge of such functions, the Act explains, the Governor shall, after consulting the Council of Ministers of the state of Telangana, exercise his individual judgment as to the action to be taken.

What is more, the Act gives such immense powers to the Governor that the decision taken by him in his discretion "shall be final, and the validity of anything done by the Governor shall not be called in question on the ground that he ought and ought not to have acted in the exercise of his individual judgment".

Thus, reports about the Attorney General's advice to the Governor based on the above, and speculation about the possibility of the invocation of Section 8 in Hyderabad, stirred the hornet's nest on Monday night in political circles.

The Chief Ministers of various states and also the leaders of various political parties from New Delhi are understood to have called up KCR and extended their full support and cooperation in opposing any such move of the Governor at the best of the BJP-led NDA government under duress from its ally TDP and AP CM.

Irked by media reports and speculations in the matter, KCR is understood to have held a meeting first with the Chief Secretary and other senior officials and conveyed his anger and displeasure.

He termed any such move by the government tantamount to an affront to the self-respect of Telangana people.

He seemed to have hinted that he would not hesitate to launch another movement and was even prepared to go on an indefinite fast in New Delhi in this matter.

Consequent to these developments, the meeting of KCR with the Governor this morning assumed great political significance. Informed sources said the Telangana CM had, as mentioned, expressed his annoyance and displeasure over proposed moves by the Governor to take administrative control of law and order in Hyderabad under his control.

It is further learnt that the Chief Minister had briefed the Governor about the investigations in the Revanth Reddy note-for-vote case, and that the Telangana government had acquired all necessary evidence and was in possession of enough material to "nail" Chandrababu Naidu in the scandal.

The Governor is understood to have advised KCR not read too much into the media reports and speculations. "Observe utmost restraint and do not act in any manner that will precipitate the delicate situation," he is understood to have told KCR.

Meanwhile, the issue has triggered off widespread protests and condemnation from scores of TRS leaders and other Opposition parties. Pressure also started building on KCR to call for a state bandh to express the people's resentment against such moves.

The leaders acused Chandrababu Naidu of playing a diabolical game to save his skin in the note-for-vote case.

Amidst these twists and turns in the scenario in the backdrop of the note-for-vote case, Naidu is also expected to call on the Governor later in the evening. (NSS)