Have you ever heard gods being dragged into agitations? Temples across the region stopped 'Arjitha sevas' and other special rituals as priests and other employees joined the movement this week. The state capital as well as the entire region remains paralyzed. Brand Hyderabad has been affected. Universities and government functioning remain paralyzed. In short the political parties express helplessness now that the Telengana movement has gone out of control. They were riding the tiger and now the tiger is on the move and there is no one to control.

A demand for a separate Telengana has been dogging the centre and the state for many decades. The desire and sentiment for Statehood has become very strong among all sections of the people of Telengana. The movement has picked up once again this month. On the other hand, there is also the strong feeling in Andhra in favor of preservation of the unity of the State. No amount of statistics and data can alter these feelings and sentiments.

The government believes in setting up committees and commissions and not finding a political solution. The demand dormant in the seventies and eighties picked up in nineties when the Telengana Rashtra Samithi sprang up and right now reached the peak.

Even after the submission of the Sri Krishna Commission report (setup to study the subject) in January the Union government seems to think that by closing its eyes the problem will go away.

The centre has opted for the easier option of waiting for things to happen rather than take the hard decision required dealing with the vexed issue. It is amazing how the centre has practically abdicated its responsibility and allowed the Congress party managers to fix backroom deals.

The issue is not resolved on account of two things. A hesitant centre is refusing to take a bold decision and an incompetent state government is unable to engage the political parties. There is absolutely no political will to build a consensus and face the consequences. Based on the Sri Krishna report the centre could have pushed for a consensus but instead, it is just dilly- dallying. The Congress is in a dilemma as its own members of Parliament and legislators from Telengana have already resigned but neither the Lok Sabha Speaker nor the Andhra Pradesh Speaker have taken any decision. Only a political consensus could resolve the issue and action is needed urgently.

Discussions and debates have taken place many times in and outside Parliament and the State Assembly. The centre’s response has been disappointing. Home Minister P. Chidambaram said only three parties - the TRS, the BJP and the CPI - have made up their mind on the issue, whereas the Congress, the TDP, the YSR Congress, the CPI-M and the MIM have not firmed up their stand on the matter. This is a unique situation where political parties in Andhra Pradesh are divided down the middle.

On the one hand the Telangana Congress leaders have become the subject of ridicule of their party colleagues from Seema - Andhra regions and, on the other, they are under immense pressure from the high command to fall in line and put an end to their statehood demand. Health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, in charge of the party affairs for Andhra Pradesh has gone on record saying, 'Everything is open and it's for the representatives to put forward their arguments - both for and against. We are looking forward to a more specific dialogue.” So it is back to square one.

Andhra Pradesh is used to be called the citadel of the Congress. Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka were two states, which stood by late Mrs. Indira Gandhi when she was down in 1977 Lok Sabha elections. The UPA came to power in 2004 and 2009, because of a large number MPs sent from Andhra Pradesh. However, after the untimely accidental death of late chief minister Dr. Y.S. Rajashkehkara Reddy, the Congress has lost out in the state and today if elections are held it may not even get a double digit number.

The first thing the Congress has to do is to reconcile its own M.Ps and MLAs to whatever decision the centre takes. Secondly, the delaying tactics should be done away forthwith and a bold decision should be taken at the earlier.

Thirdly, all players should rise above party politics to arrive at an amicable solution to rescue the state from the present position. What is needed right now is a decision one-way or the other so that the suspense will end. It should not hesitate to impose President’s rule if that would cool down the passions and use the interim period to find a solution. The government and the Congress should keep in mind what Justice Sri Krishna Commission quoting Sardar Vallab Bhai Patel said” It will be a folly to ignore realities. Facts take their revenge if they are not faced squarely and well.” Statesmanship lies in finding a solution, keeping in mind both the sentiments and aspirations of the people of all regions. (IPA Service)