Many of you have asked for my submission to the Srikrishna Committee. I have collaborated with the APNRI organization to prepare the report. We have released the report to the public at an event organized in New Jersey.
Please click on the link below to view the report:
Main section: http://www.myteluguroots.com/PDF/APNRI_SKC_Main.pdf
Appendix: http://www.myteluguroots.com/PDF/APNRI_SKC_Appendix.pdf
I am also including the text of the press release that has been sent to the media organizations.
Save Andhra Pradesh!
Nalamotu Chakravarthy
http://www.facebook.com/people/@/226703252445
http://www.amazon.com/My-Telugu-Roots-Telangana-Bhasmasura/dp/0984238603/
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Andhra Pradesh Non-Resident Indians Rejected Division of the State
Subject: Srikrishna Committee Submission Press Release
Date: April 18th, 2010
Andhra Pradesh Non-Resident Indians, in their Srikrishna Committee submission have strenuously argued against division of the State. In an event organized to release the submission to the media organizations and public, NRIs presented compelling statistical evidence to debunk the myth of underdevelopment in the Telangana region. NRIs presented data from 1956 and 2008 on several economic sectors including education, irrigation, industries, employment, agriculture output, roads, and hospitals. In each of these sectors, they have compared development across all three regions and have argued that there is no evidence of deliberate discrimination.
APNRIs have said that Telangana was home to some of the greatest empires that united Telugu people. Members of the organization have expressed sadness with the way separatists are distorting the region’s history and culture to fit their agenda of division.
The details of APNRI’s Srikrishna Committee submission were released at a press meeting held on April 19, 2010 at Radisson Convention Center in Piscataway, New Jersey, USA. The event was attended by various Indian media outlets, including supporters for United Andhra Pradesh.
APNRI’s submission to the Srikrishna Committee was structured into four main themes: a long legacy of Telugu people living together in harmony, analysis of the progress and economic development in the three regions of the state since 1956, impact of the current developments in Andhra Pradesh on non-resident Indians, and a strong case for why the state of Andhra Pradesh should not be divided.
APNRI Forum has been working with political and media establishments in Andhra Pradesh to promote the United Andhra Pradesh cause. As part of this effort, APNRI forum has been organizing “Meet the Leader” conference calls with the leaders and elected representatives of the State. Some of the prominent speakers that attended these calls were Sri Lagadapati Rajagopal, Sri Mandali Budhaprasad, Sri Jayaprakash Narayan, Sri, Thammineni Veerabadram, Sri Payyavula Kesav, and Sri B.V. Raghavulu.
Following its release of the Srikrishna Committee submission, APNRI is embarking on an aggressive campaign for preservation of the geographical integrity of the State of
About APNRI (http://www.andhrapradeshnri.org ):
APNRI was formed by the non-resident Telugu Indians living in the United States and Canada. The organization is represented by the members from the Coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema, and Telangana regions. This is the national-level umbrella organization representing several state level organizations striving for a united Andhra Pradesh state.
The mission of the organization is to promote unity and harmony among Telugu people of all regions and to preserve the geographic integrity of the state of Andhra Pradesh.
APNRI submission can be obtained at: http://www.andhrapradeshnri.org/report.html
Tags: Andhra, ceded, chakravarthy, circar, kosta, nizam, rayalaseema, srikrishna committee, Telangana
Nice and precise report. Well Done
Hi Chakravarthy,
Earlier you said that, you will try to meet the Sri Krishna team personally. Is it still on cards? Did you happen to set up the time with them?
Thanks,
Srinivas
Yes Srinivas garu, I am planning to meet the Srikrishna Committee. Still working through the logistics and no date has been set yet.
Chakravarthy garu,
Few points from my side. One of the view points is that if majority of telangana people approached by SKC voice in favour of telangana then it must be recommended – this is a dangerous view point because it appears to have some democratic appeal. But that is not how enlightened societies are supposed to work at all. The only legitimate way people can give their opinions is through legislature in a democracy and not in front of committees (what are legislatures for ?).
Another point is even if majority of people approached by SKC(not through a secret ballot anyway) did voice in favour of telangana it does not mean the demand is strong and that is their most important thing on mind. If you approach people in europe on immigration an overwhelming majority may say a complete stop but their societies know better. If you ask people what needs to be dont to child rapists or rapists in general majority may come up with macabre recommendations. A mere opinion espressed in front of a committe or a news paper journalist should not become a law even if it has majority. And referendums are not universally accepted.
Just a few points.
Regards,
Kiran
Mr Kiran
I guess you do not undrestand the meaning of legislature. Legislature is made up of elected representatives and who are supposed to voice the views of people who have elected them. This is the basic premise of democracy. You views suggest that you do not beleive democracy. If majority of people of telangana want a seperate state, then Going by the democratic values and principles of our country, Govt of India has to abide by it. By incurring the demand for telangana state is not strong, you are showing you naievity. If it was not a strong demand, it would have never lasted for such a lond time. And thanks to the current movement, yound generations of telangana have learnt a lot about its history, so if the Govt does not announce it now, there definetely will be another movements. That's a given
To Karthik above,
Please read the post carefully before you venture to "rebuke". I was expressing some apprehensions on how some people can twist the concept of a democracy to make opinions in front of a mere committee as constituting some legal obligation for the state .Democracy has a form and procedure and is different from mobocracy. The procedure is a discussion in legislature something the trs and separatists have been dead opposed – they want a direct bill in parliament showing the contempt they have for the people of AP. The only time a democratic discussion has happened regarding this matter was in 50s when both Hyderabad state and Andhra state have passed bills unanimously recommending a merger. Seperatists .ofcourse treat that matter with mere contempt – the contempt they have for people in general.
Please read this post to see whether the Telangana is based on Economics or Shrill Politics
http://ankurchoudhary.blogspot.com/2010/04/case-for-telangana-sound-economics-or.html
Mr. Nalamotu, SKC TOR # 3 refers to "To examine the impact of the recent developments in the State on the different sections of the people such as women, children, students, minorities, other backward classes, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes". Your response structure # 3 refers t this as "Impact of recent developments in the State on the different sections of people, including the NRIs". I have a few questions on this please:
1. There is no specific reference to NRIs in the TOR. Do you consider this to be an omission or a part of “such as”?
2. What is the impact of NRI investment & remittaces (e.g. NRI/FDI ratio) in AP?
3. Do you count US/Canada citizens as NRIs?
Thanks a lot, Prakash
Members of our organization felt that NRIs should have a stake on the issue of separation given the strong cultural, family, and economic bonds that we have wit the state. Hence we took upon ourselves to present our case, eventhough it is not there in TOR.
NRI/FDI data to an extent is available via RBI and some of it is published on the Internet.
Yes, we consider US/Canada citizens of Indian origin as NRIs. Of course, we haven't considered a detailed legal definition yet.
A couple of supplementaries to the above if it is OK with you please. What is the stand, if any, of associations like TANA & ATA? What, if any, is the "cross-membership" of your association with these?
I've never bothered to check or ask about cross-membership with other orgs as I felt that is irrelevant. I personally am not associated with any of these national organizations and never attened their events. As far as I know, TANA and ATA did not get involved in this issue, as they have members from all regions.