JP said that Congress will go down in history as having the singular distinction of derailing the country's economy, and also its federalism and democracy.
Hyderabad, Oct 21 (INN): Lok Satta Party national President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan on Monday appealed to Telugu people across Telangana and Seemandhra regions, not to drown out each other?s voices that give vent to the desire for a separate state on one side and anguish over the state being cleaved on the other.
"It is supremely important to respect each other's desires, and it is our bounden duty that we make them come true. And we know it can be done," he said.
Dr. JP asked people to realize that "the Congress Party is hell bent on subverting any peaceful solution for the Telugu people in favour of its own vested electoral interests".
He added that through "its reckless and undemocratic methods" in conceding the legitimate demand for Telangana statehood, the Congress has undermined the federal structure.
"The Congress will go down in history, as having the singular distinction of not only derailing the country's economy, but also its democracy," he added.
In an open letter addressed to Telugu people, Dr. JP asked in anguish why he should be forced to choose between brothers in the glorious Telugu family. Why should one region burn today and the other tomorrow, he asked.
The Lok Satta leader said that he hears both voices - the one demanding statehood for Telangana and the other expressing anguish over the state?s bifurcation.
The demand for Telangana, which was expressed in hushed tones decades ago, has become a powerful boom, according to him.
"Although the voice has been politically manipulated repeatedly, it is still the people's voice. The people have expressed their desire in election after election in Telangana. It must, therefore, be accorded due legitimacy," he opined.
Dr. JP told how he has also been a witness to the tear-stained faces of the Seemandhra people, their hearts bleeding over the division of the state. He said, "Although there is no dearth of political instigation here also their emotion is real and must be duly recognized."
Against such a backdrop, Dr. JP asked why there should be winners and losers within the family and why he should be forced to choose between the 2 brothers. This is not a zero sum game, he claimed.
Pointing out that the true meaning of democracy is to reconcile conflicting interests, he challenged the Congress party to do it in the context of Andhra Pradesh. The Congress has no moral right to govern this country since it has demonstrated its incapacity to do it, he voiced.
"Everyone knows that when a state, created on the basis of language, is sought to be divided, that too when division involves a region with one of the biggest cities in the country and an economic hub, there is complexity. The pain and anguish caused can be imagined," Dr. JP said.
He accused the Congress Party of acting in a reckless and undemocratic manner in conceding the legitimate demand for Telangana statehood, and that it patently undermines the federal structure.
The Congress methods have "resulted in a conflict between an immovable object and an irresistible force".
He opined that the way this anger is boiling over today, it can affect national unity and that is the worst the Congress could do to our country.
Dr. JP said that the Congress party's approaches reminded of the days of Emergency when the whole nation was converted into a jail, liberty was extinguished, and states? rights were violated with contempt.
Dr.JP recalled that our founding fathers' tryst with destiny led to the integration of the entire country without a single drop of blood being spilled.
"Today, the Congress party has made a farce of that legacy by staunchly refusing to build a consensus between the Telangana and Seemandhra stake-holders. Instead, it glibly plays hate politics and electoral games, watching idly as the State burns. Their current methods are totally unacceptable,? said Dr. JP talking about the present state of affairs.
"We are a federal republic. Parliament cannot ride roughshod over a state. I've begged so many times for this topic to be discussed," he concluded. (INN)