The proposed bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh to pave the way for Telangana State is a disastrous move which will affect employment opportunities of at least two generations; the people of the residual Andhra Pradesh (now being referred to as Seemandhra) will lose rights over the Capital, according to D.V.R. Murthy, Head of Journalism Department, Andhra University.
He made the observation at a seminar on the ramifications of the proposed bifurcation organised here on Sunday by the Rotary Clubs of Visakhapatnam.
He said though there were several other issues, the loss of Hyderabad would be a terrible blow to the Seemandhra people. “Rome was not built in a day. Nor was Hyderabad. According to my calculations, it will adversely affect two generations (the productive life of each generation being put at 30 years) and there is every possibility that it may lead to rise of militancy in the youth of Seemandhra, as they are deprived of job opportunities,” he said.
Maoist extremism
Citing the report submitted by the Sri Krishna Committee, he said the committee had pointed out that Maoist extremism would make inroads once again into interior Telangana, as the region was surrounded by Maoist-affected districts in the neighbouring States such as Chattisgarh.
“I foresee the rise of Maoist extremism in Telangana and militancy in the rest of Andhra Pradesh. On the whole, it will affect all regions in the State. The Congress party also seems to be toying with the idea of joining the four Rayalaseema districts with Telangana to form a State in which the Muslim population will be 21 per cent. The move is intended to checkmate the BJP. The ruling party at the Centre and the State is playing havoc with the state,” he alleged.
Software exports
O. Naresh Kumar, the CEO of Symbiosys Technologies, a software company here, said software exports from Hyderabad alone amounted to Rs 50,000 croreper annum and the rest of Andhra Pradesh (Visakhapatnam being the sole IT centre) accounted for just Rs 1,300 crore.
“It is anybody’s guess how long the rest of AP will take to catch up with Hyderabad, if it does at all. There is no supporting infrastructure in the rest of AP. It has been subjected to criminal neglect all these years and all the money has been dumped in Hyderabad. Even money realised through auction of lands in Visakhapatnam city limits has been diverted to Hyderabad in the past few years,” he alleged.
Decentralisation
K. Srinivasa Rao, a city lawyer who presided over the seminar, said all these years the leaders had only paid lip service to the concept of decentralisation and neglected the rest of Andhra Pradesh.
sarma.rs@thehindu.co.in