17^th April 2013

The Beginnings of Fascism?

-Anjaneya Reddy, Member Core Committee, Vishalandhra Mahasabha (presided over the aborted meeting); formerly of the Indian Police Service

‘When you fail to shoot, you beat with the butt’ so goes an old adage. This is what happened  on 16^th April ‘13, in the hall named for Suravaram Pratap Reddy, scholar-writer and pioneer-editor of the old Hyderabad State. On prior intimation to police and with the permission of the authorities, a meeting was called in the Press Club, Basheer bagh by the Visalandhra Mahasabha – an organization committed to the political and cultural integrity of the Telugu speaking people – to launch the Telugu version of their publication ‘Refuting an Agitation’ . The publication seeks to place in public domain facts and figures relating to some 100 assertions often made by the Telangana protagonists to incite emotions. The issues raised over the years were carefully collected, categorized and researched with an open mind to see if there is any room for genuine grievance. It has taken the organization more than two years to do all this and bring out a publication which gives unbiased and authentic information. Its English edition was launched in New Delhi some time ago in the presence of eminent journalists and writers and sent to all columnists, opinion-makers, MPs and MLAs of the State. Of late, many people have come to rely on the publication for authentic information. As a result, there is considerable disenchantment with the claims of the Telangana protagonists! Even, they have come to realize that their claims are not supported by statistics and switched to basing their case on ‘sentiment’ which all well-meaning people know cannot be the basis for dividing a State!  Should  sentiment be the criterion, we have to have more than 500 States in India!

The book was launched by Mehboob Ali, a veteran of the Telangana Struggle of the 1950s which not only fought the Nizam-supported Razakars bravely but rid Telangana of all feudalism and paved the way for  what is now Andhra Pradesh. As the meeting progressed, some journalists came in, asked the police officers in plain clothes to leave the hall which they meekly did in spite of prior information to them that the trouble was brewing. Some hoodlums claiming to be journalists broke into the hall, broke the microphones and burnt copies of the book in the hall itself, all under the confused gaze of the policemen. Ironically, the venue is barely two hundred meters away from the office of the Dy. Commissioner who was briefed by the writer himself a day In advance about the possibility of inspired violence. There were at least a hundred policemen and officers including the ‘task-force’ bouncers whereas the trouble makers were about 25 or 30. When this writer, who presided over the meeting, later protested to the Dy. Commissioner, he pleaded helplessness on the ground that the incident took place inside the Press Club hall! He even seems to think that the journalists in their own premises are above the law!

The incident raises some questions of deep concern. Press Club should be the place where the right to freedom of speech is to be upheld more than anywhere else. Even if a section of the press is opposed to the book being launched – in the normal circumstance there can be no opposition – there is a way to protest. A day later another meeting can be held to counter or question the facts the book presents. Burning a book that too in the premises of the Press Club shows their utter contempt for freedom of speech about which they often yell from the rooftops and almost borders on fascist tendencies among a section of journalists. This menace, only the well-meaning among them can put down! If the self-correcting mechanism breaks down, freedom of the Press itself would be in jeopardy. We would like to tell our journalist friends that books are not for burning!

The police also have a few lessons to learn. Every police officer is administered an oath at the beginning of his or her career to uphold the Constitution which promises freedom of speech and the right to assemble “peaceably and without arms”. Failing to afford protection, in spite of prior intimation to them as in the instant case, would amount to abdication of professional responsibility. The confusion in the minds of senior officers whether they can intervene in the Press Club premises to restrain the misbehaving journalists has resulted in the whole force being reduced to mute spectators. This is precisely what happened on an earlier occasion again in the press club, when the Bangladesh activist, Taslima Nazreen was assaulted and humiliated by an MLA and a few of his  fundamentalist followers right under the nose of the Police, while launching a book questioning religious orthodoxy. Our police officers are either inadequately briefed about the rights of the people or do not know their job well or trying to be more ‘tactful’ than correct in their conduct. If this kind of inaction is tolerated on part of the police officers, consequences can be disastrous and even normally law-abiding people, in their frustration, would be forced to take law into their hands! As long as the duty of the police is to prevent violence and lawlessness, it doesn’t matter where it takes place, in the Press Club or a university or even a temple or a mosque. None of these places are above the law of the land or people connected with them have any immunity from police action. Law-abiding people expect the Police to uphold their right to assemble and make their voices heard. The day the police fail to do this, democratic rights have no meaning! Let them not drive the law-abiding people to desperation! In any case let not our police force be over-awed by hooliganism whatever quarters it comes from!

All members of Visalandhra Mahasabha are safe and sound after today's attack on them by the militant journalists. It is quite unfortunate that the Sahara news journalist who flew in from Delhi to cover the event got injured in the process. He got a deep cut on his hand because of the flying glass. He got treatment. I spoke to him and he is doing well. He is shocked at the level of militancy in the media in our state. Quite unfortunate to say the least.

విశాలాంధ్ర మహాసభ పుస్తకావిష్కరణ
ఆహ్వానము

ఆంధ్ర ప్రదేశ్ లో విభజన వాదులు ప్రచారం చేస్తున్న అసత్యాలను, వక్రీకరణలను క్రోడీకరించి వాటిని గణాంకాలతో సహా తప్పులు గా నిరూపిస్తూ విశాలాంధ్ర మహాసభ రూపొందించిన పుస్తకం Refuting An Agitation: 101 Lies and Dubious Arguments యొక్క తెలుగు అనువాదం

రుజువులు లేని ఉద్యమం

తెలంగాణ వేర్పాటు వాదుల 101 అబద్ధాలు, వక్రీకరణలు

రాష్ట్ర రాజధాని హైదరాబాద్ లో ఆవిష్కరింప బడుతోంది.

తేదీ: బుధవారం 17 ఏప్రిల్ 2013

సమయం: ఉదయం 11:30 గంటలు

వేదిక: ప్రెస్ క్లబ్, దేశోద్ధారక భవన్, బషీర్ బాగ్, హైదరాబాద్.

ప్రముఖ స్వాతంత్ర్య సమర యోధులు శ్రీ మెహబూబ్ అలీ

పుస్తకాన్ని ఆవిష్కరిస్తారు.

శ్రీ సి. అంజనేయ రెడ్డి ( మాజీ డి జి పి )

సభకు అధ్యక్షత వహిస్తారు.

Here's some recent activity in media on the topic of division or not.

1) Ashok Malik wrote a nice article in Tehelka: "The Telangana decision can’t be left to the UPA’s electoral gambles"

"what India surely deserves is a discussion and a broad agreement on the criteria for creation of new states: administrative or fiscal, related to infrastructure or population size, flowing from objective estimates of economic neglect and backwardness or otherwise. The UPA government may think it only owes Telangana a state. Actually, it owes India some answers."

2) Ramachandra Guha's article: "Living together, separately"

"Linguistic states were crucial at one stage of Indian history, but have they now outlived their usefulness? In north Karnataka, in the inland districts of Andhra Pradesh and of Maharashtra, and in the hilly districts of northern Bengal — in all these places there are vigorous movements calling for separation from the parent province."

3) A fitting reply to Ramachandra Guha by Parakala Prabhakar. You can also find a lame response by Guha at the bottom: "Form small States, create bigger problems"

"Small states for administrative convenience and economic development’ argument will not run its full course and stop with making States small. Inevitably one day, sooner than later, we will have to face the question, ‘why not smaller countries for administrative convenience and economic prosperity’?"

Dear All,

Here is the soft copy of the book that was released today: Refuting An Agitation

Regards,

Chakravarthy

The second episode of my show was on foreign direct investment and why Walmart and investments from other foreign companies should be allowed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7CKzgYVAFY

Dear All,

I have started doing a new show on hmtv that will telecast twice a week on Fridays at 8 PM IST, and Tuesdays at 12:30 PM IST. I am going to champion my philosophy of small government and minimal regulation on this show. First show was broadcasted last week. Here is a link to the show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtjbGz6CwWk

Regards,

Nalamotu Chakravarthy

I was on TV5 recently on their Pravasandhra program. Looks like they had some behind the screens chaos. In the first half hour there were no calls. In the next half hour there were all hostile calls. To me it appeared like a set up. I guess one shouldn't be surprised with the TV studios modus operandi at this point. Anchor was not interviewing me but was debating me. Oh well! It wasn't my best day either. Went ill prepared.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fTszWXmknA

I was on the TV9's Varadhi program. Here are the links to the interview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v4oLVAERX8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bsrx-vf0Uo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJnsoHyoXTA

Dear All,

Andhra Pradesh State Formation Day is around the corner. It is important that we all celebrate this historic day. With the formation of Andhra Pradesh state, Telugus have united under one roof after a gap of hundreds of years. Our forefathers have made great sacrifices and overcame many obstacles in order to achieve the goal of a state for Telugus. It is not only important that we stay united and live in peace and harmony but we must also cherish what has been gifted to us.

On November 1^st 2012, at 11.00 AM, please join us at the Telugu Thalli vigraham near State Secretariat. Visalandhra Mahasabha members will be there to celebrate this special day. I am looking forward to seeing you all.

Regards,

Nalamotu Chakravarthy

ఈ రోజు శ్రీ కొండా లక్ష్మణ్ బాపూజీ నిర్వహించిన రౌండ్ టేబుల్ కాన్ఫెరెన్స్ కి విశాలాంధ్ర మహాసభ హాజరయ్యింది.

రాష్ట్ర విభజనకు వ్యతిరేకంగా మా వాదనను వినిపించే అవకాశం కల్పిస్తామని మాట ఇచ్చిన మీదట మా సభ్యులం సమావేశానికి హాజరయ్యం. పిలవని పేరంటానికి మేము వెళ్ళలేదు.

ఇరవై నుంచి ముప్ఫై నిముషాలు అడ్డం పడకుండా అంతరాయం కలిగించకుండా మా మాట చెప్పే అవకాశం ఇస్తామని పదే పదే మాకు చెప్పి అనేక సార్లు మాకు ఫోన్లు చేసాక మేము అక్కడికి వెళ్ళాం.

మా తరఫున డా పరకాల ప్రభాకర్ తన ఉపన్యాసం ప్రారంభించగానే అక్కడ ఉన్న వారు అడ్డుతగలడం మొదలుపెట్టారు.

విభజనకు అనుకూలంగా వారు ఒక కారణం చెపితే మేము కలిసి ఉండడానికి వందకారణాలు చెపుతామని, వారు వంద చెపితే మేము వెయ్యి చెపుతామని, వారు వెయ్యి చెపితే మేము లక్ష చెపుతామని విశాలాంధ్ర మహా సభ ప్రధాన కార్యదర్శి డా పరకాల ప్రభాకర్ ఆ సమావేశం లో సవాలు చేసారు.

తెలంగాణ ప్రాంతం లో రాష్ట్ర సమైక్యతను కోరుకునే వాళ్ళు లక్షలాదిగా ఉన్నారని, దానికి నిదర్శనం విశాలాంధ్ర మహాసభ లో ఉన్న శ్రీయుతులు నర్రా మాధవరావు (సాతంత్ర్య సమరయోధులు), కుమార్ చౌదరి యాదవ్, శ్రీనివాస రెడ్డి, నలమోతు చక్రవర్తి, శ్రీమతి సుగుణమ్మ(స్వాతంత్ర్య సమరయోధులు) లు ప్రముఖ నిదర్శనాలు. ఇందులో అనేక మంది ఇవాల్టి సభలో పాల్గొన్నారు.  విశాలాంధ్ర కోరే ఈ తెలంగాణ ప్రముఖుల కన్నా విభజన కోరే వారికి తెలంగాణా పురోగతి పట్ల అధికంగా ఉన్న నిబద్ధత ఏమిటో వారు సమాధానం చెప్పాలి అని విశాలాంధ్ర మహాసభ ప్రశ్నించింది.

తెలంగాణ ప్రాంతం లో విశాలాంధ్ర వాదుల నోరునోక్కే ప్రయత్నం మానుకోవాలి.

పౌర హక్కులను కాపాడతామని చెప్పుకునే వారు, స్వాత్రంత్ర్య సమరయోధులు, శాసన సభ్యులు, పార్లమెంటు సభ్యులు ఉన్న సభలో మా వాదనను చెప్పడానికి అడ్డుపడడం చాల విచారకరం. వారెవరూ మా అభిప్రాయాన్ని చెప్పుకునే హక్కు మాకు ఉన్నదని మా వాక్ స్వాతంత్ర్యాన్ని కాపాడడానికి ముందుకు రాక పోవడం చాల గర్హనీయం.

వీరందరికీ విశాలాంధ్ర మహా సభ ఒక విజ్ఞప్తి చేస్తున్నది.

ఇప్పటికయినా ప్రజాస్వామ్య వాతావరణం లో ఒక చర్చ చేపట్టండి. విభజన వాదన వక్రీకరణల మీద, అభూత కల్పనల మీద, అసత్యాల మీద అర్ధ సత్యాల మీద ఆధార పది సాగు తున్న ఆందోళన అని మేము నిరూపిస్తాం. రాష్ట్ర విభజన ఎందుకు జరగాలో వారు చెప్పవచ్చు.

మా నోరు నొక్కడంతో వారి వాదన లో బలం లేదు అని వారు చెప్పకనే చెప్పినట్టు అయింది.

విశాలాంధ్ర మహాసభ అటువంటి చర్చకు ఎప్పుడైనా ఎక్కడైనా సిద్ధం.

రౌండ్ టేబుల్ కాన్ఫెరెన్స్ నిర్వాహకులు మాకు ఇచ్చిన మాట, హామీ నిలబెట్టుకోనందువల్ల, మూకుమ్మడిగా లేచి మాట్లాడుతూ మాకు అంతరాయం కలిగించడం వల్ల, విభజన కు అనుకూలంగా మాట్లాడ మని మమ్మల్ని ఒత్తిడి చేయడం వల్ల మేము సమావేశం నించి నిష్క్రమించాము.

నలమోతు చక్రవర్తి

అధ్యక్షులు, విశాలాంధ్ర మహాసభ

Andhra Pradesh Communists carried the mantle of Telugu unity for many decades. During the armed uprising against Nizam, it is the Telugu brotherhood that brought together leaders like Puchalapalli Sundarayya and Ravi Narayan Reddy to fight against Nizam.  Alas, several communists today have given up the original ideals. While CPI that runs “Visalandhra” wants to divide the state, CPM that stands for integration only pays a lip service to the cause. It is in this difficult environment, MCPI party for the last several years, has strongly stood for the geographical integrity of the state of Andhra Pradesh. In fact, late Sri B.N. Reddy and Sri Omkar of MCPI, I understand, were staunch integrationists.

It is indeed bold of MCPI to stand on a platform of integration in Warangal’s Parkal constituency. We express our gratitude to MCPI candidate Somidi Srinivas for taking a principled position on this issue.

Warangal has a unique position in the history of Telugus. Warangal's Kakatiya Empire holds the distinction of uniting the Telugus that were scattered across many small principalities after the demise of the Satavahana Empire. Unfortunately, our electoral politics are no longer won by principles and philosophies. Our elections are for the most part won via money, caste, creed, and religion. It is in this difficult electoral environment, we urge integrationists in the Parkal constituency to support MCPI candidate and make the voices of Telugu unity heard.

Visalandhra Mahasabha is conducting a press meet in the Somajiguda Press Club at 11.00 AM on Wednesday, June 6^th. Leaders of Visalandhra Mahasabha and MCPI will address the press during this meet. You are welcome to participate in the event.

Yesterday’s book release event went well when compared to the previous events held by Visalandhra Mahasabha in Hyderabad. From Visalandhra Mahasabha we had Freedom Fighters’ Association President Narra Madhav Rao, another freedom fighter Mehaboob Ali, C. Anjaneya Reddy, Parakala Prabhakar, Chegondi Ramajogaiah, Kumar Chowdhary Yadav, Kethiry Srinivas Reddy, Sunkara Venkateswar Rao, Laxman Reddy and several others that were in attendance.

The book was released by Sri Narra Madhav Rao. After the book release, when Prabhakar garu was speaking, questions were raised by the media persons interrupting the session. When they were told to not to interrupt and let the program go on and that the questions will be addressed later, they would not heed. Some of their main concerns were, how is the book relevant in today’s context? If the whole Nizam region was for integration in 1950s, the same Nizam region wants separation now, why not heed to the demand?

However, we insisted on allowing us to finish the program first and the press questions would be addressed once the speakers are done with their speeches. However, the media refused to stay quiet and kept shouting at us. At this point, we decided to disregard the disruption and go on with the program. After Prabhakar garu spoke, Mehboob Ali garu spoke about their past struggles under Nizam rule and how Communists fought together. Sri Ali expressed his desire to see “visalandhralo praja raajyam”. Later Chegondi Ramajogaih garu who edited the book, chided the media for lack of respect to freedom of speech. After this we ended the session as the media guys continued their shouting match.

Here is a link to the book that was released yesterday: Telanganalo Visalandhrodyamam

Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Nagam Janardhan Reddy must be congratulated for their recent hard-fought victory in the by-elections. Yes, the winning candidates spent a lot of money; but, so did the losing parties.

Like in every other election, TRS contested on a single issue platform of a separate state. TRS claimed that they are the only genuine party representing all those people aspiring for a separate state and accused Congress and TDP of deceiving the people on the issue of separation. Congress and TDP were on the defensive from the get-go on the issue of separation.

At this juncture, it is an open secret that Congress Party is not in favor of division. However, the national leadership lacks courage to state its position publicly. They could also be wary of a possible Jagan-KCR tie up.  Congress Party’s inability to come out openly against division should be a concern for all integrationists. It could mean that Congress Party is capable of using this issue for electoral gains, yet again!

TDP is also seen by most people as either indifferent to division or against division. Therefore, in my view, those that voted for TDP or Congress could not have separation as their primary criterion when voting.

Given this scenario, there are a couple of encouraging elements that integrationists can take comfort in, despite separatists’ victory.

Firstly, the BJP angle- the rumblings from Mahbubnagar is that BJP used both the community and the communal card to steal the TRS vote. Going forward, a strengthening BJP will continue to steal more votes from TRS than from Congress or TDP. Division of the separatist vote does not bode well for TRS. If BJP and TRS enter into an alliance down the road, it will result in TRS losing Muslim support. Such a tie would only strengthen the argument that MIM has been making for many years on the issue of separation- that in a separate state BJP would emerge as a stronger party.

Second and more encouraging aspect is the erosion of vote for parties that have clearly stood for separation. In the year 2010, when by-elections were held for 12 seats, TRS raked in 66.26% of the vote. In the just finished by-election TRS got 45.39% vote including Nagam Janardhan Reddy’s votes. Even if BJP’s vote is added to the total, the percentage votes received comes to 50.05%. To the contrary, Congress and TDP which have been dilly-dallying on the issue of separation gained votes. In 2010 by-elections, Congress got 18.70% votes and TDP got 7.22%. In this election both the parties strengthened and got 23.74% and 19.22% respectively. Both the parties appear to have gained at the expense of TRS.

Yes, while TRS won in 5 of the 6 seats it contested in, integrationists can take a little bit of comfort in dwindling TRS support among the voters. A strengthening BJP will also alienate Muslims and accordingly weaken TRS. We have to wait till the next election to see how things play out. Clearly, the separatist issue is not going away anytime soon.