The Telangana Turmoil

The case for a separate state for Telangana is a classic case of government politicizing a class discrimination of highest degrees. The movement is regarded as separatist but there is more to it than meets the eyes.

When electoral, democratic and legal methods get crushed by those in power, not many options are left for the oppressed. The oppressed in this case are the minority Telenagana people who have been, post-independence, voted out and ousted in the Andra majority regime in the state of AP.

Resorting to “undemocratic” means is the last resort of this movement. Government needs to come up with a better answer than setting up committee and delaying the call on this. There is a difference between fragmentation and restoration when deciding on state boundaries. Telangana just happens to gfall in the latter category 

The Pretense of Generosity

Government is getting too comfortable at pulling the strings of the citizens at its own whims. The relaxation of orders to curb protests at Jantar Mantar and the India Gate highlights this fact. The withdrawal coming within 24 hours of banning protests at prominent public spots in the capital proves that it is just a power gimmick making people realizing their ‘place’.

The imposition of Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code was never justified in the first place. Certainly not for the peaceful protests and strikes that were expected after the sham that was made of the Lokpal Bill. The lifting of the sanctioned curb before the parliament session starts on August 1 is just a democratic mockery we are being fed.

It is in our hands to make the most of such relaxations. A little conviction of the reform should all one should need to bring down the government to justice. The window to the path of the revolution has just opened up.