To be or not to be

Old, undated article found while cleaning google drive.

To be or not to be:

Indian Homosexuals fight for their rights

A landmark judgement from the Delhi high court and the nation is thrown in the ambit of a fresh debate over morals and ethics. Whether it is right to be homosexual or not, or… do the homosexuals have the right to be or not. The Delhi High Court in a recent decision ruled out the section 377 of Indian penal code stating it to be a violation of Human rights. The part of the nation welcomed the judgement, some refused to comment, but mostly a feeling of disgust and apprehension flowed; how can this happen in India. The upwardly mobile urban middle class could not accept that our courts also house forwardly mobile brains which dare to take logical decisions. While political reaction has been tightly restrained, the public opinion was expressed loud and clear. While the homosexuals, from both sexes, with their partners, obviously of the same sex, came out in the open… cheered, hugged, celebrated…. the nation watched with confusion and contradictions. While the older generations simply rejected the decision as being anti-Indian culture, the youth are mostly welcoming the step.

              Section 377 states "whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature, with any man, woman or animal shall be punishable with imprisonment for life or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine." The court held it against human rights. mass opinion, however goes on the other way. Do we live in an insensitive society which fails to understand the needs of its members and simply imposes its so called ideals?

         43 year old housewife from a posh locality in South Delhi, Poonam Hooda termed the ruling as disgusting. “Are they going to make this country a brothel? Do we not have enough social corruption already?” says Hooda. Countering the judgment on the same lines, a government servant, Mr Rajiv Singh called it the end of Indian value system. “What are we going to tell our children? They watch it on the TV and ask question.” Some from the older age group however were a little soft.  50 year old Shyam Shastri agreed it depended on personal choice. So, will he be comfortable if his children go the same way? To this he had no answer.

         “Homosexuality has been there since age, it is not a scientific invention like the computer or mobiles which has been imported from America or somewhere else,” says Sarika*, software professional. Sarika comes across as another girl next door, she, however is different. Sarika has a girlfriend. “Do I look any different? Do I have horns growing out of my head? I am as much a normal human being as anyone else,” she says. With a clear smile, Sarika is confident about her choice. “A girl above 18 has the right to marry a man of her choice, what if she likes another woman? Does that make her less eligible to make a choice?” she asks.

         Will it be too much to say that it is the double standard of Indian society that we still can not accept what has been around for ages. Contrary to the beliefs of homosexuality being anti-Indian, it is reflected in the statues of numerous medieval ad ancient temples, the most prominent name being of Khajuraho. The concept of Ardhnarishwar form of Shiva, half man half woman represents oneness of sexes. But instead of being considered unnatural, it is worshiped as the representative on complete humanity.

              In contrast to the present claims of demeaning Indian values, the fact remains that at least the ancient Indian culture has never shied away in accepting its sexuality. Unlike the Abrahmic religions, what we define as Hinduism does not consider it a crime. The question however is not of religion, it is about humanity. Is it just to pronounce some one’s sexual preference as a crime?

              More over, drafted in 1860 by the British rulers, section 377 was adopted by the Indian constitution after independence. It therefore represents not our culture but a legacy which is obsolete and not at all indigenous. Our civil society today is debating the legitimacy of capital punishment. The same society can not accept that it is gross violation of human rights criminalising what is happening by will and consent.

         “Though brothels are illegal, prostitution flourishes in the country. It is against human rights and we have flourishing red light areas. How can consensual sex between two adults, whether of same sex or not, be a crime?” questions Sarika. She adds that the situation is worse for lesbians. Being already suppressed, the fairer sex fears to come out in the open to accept what is seen as a blot. “Girls cannot accept socially about their boyfriends, who will say she has a girlfriend,” says Sarika.

         Amresh*, a homosexual man, on the other hand is not so excited about the verdict. “The battle has not even begun yet. We want rights and acceptance from the society. We are normal human beings, fighting for the right to dignity. We are no Che Guevara, we want to live a socially accepted life, with our sexual preference. Can you believe it, we can not even donate blood. I hope they do not say some day that homosexuals can not vote because they are mentally ill.”

         A social activist says that living in disguise expose homosexuals to a huge scale of physical and mental problems. They are among the high risk category for HIV and many other sexually transmitted diseases. The mental torture faced stands apart.

          The High Court ruling has brought the issue to the fore, but has not really provided complete solution. The biggest obstruction for homosexuality to be decriminalised lies within the hands of the reluctant political force. Breaking the political silence on the issue for the first time, Union Law Minister Mr Veerappa Moily, in an interview to a private news channel stated that if the apex court upholds the high court ruling, then the government might only amend section 377 of the Indian Penal Code to make it a law. Praising the Delhi High Court judgment decriminalising gay sex, Moily said that the government might not ask for a reversal if the Supreme Court upheld the ruling. However, the issue remains on the back burner for the government for now. Without any time frame or direction, or even a clear will, it will be ultimately lost in the political galleries. Moreover, in India social laws are guided neither legal framework nor personal ethics. Social course is decided by religion and a collective moral system based on it. With leaders from all religion opposing even the removal of section 377, social acceptance is next to impossible for now. Strangely enough, these very religions overlook incidents of dowry killings, polygamy, female infanticide and foeticide. In the name of God, will some one tell me what makes a set of so called values more important than human life and human rights? Should not the religion and religious set up be equally vocal and responsible in taking up social issues like health and education? Question, questions, and questions are what the homosexuals are living with. 

         The urban middle class has accepted pizzas, malls and multiplexes though they do not stand a part of our ‘culture’. What can be the problem with accepting yet another novel concept? Are we not using elevators and metro, though our great grand parents and for many, our grand parents did not use them. It is perhaps high time for India to take a firm step in the direction. India lives with contradiction, what we define as a plural society. For a country which is marching ahead on the way of industrial and economic development, is it not the time to move ahead in human rights as well. The government which claims inclusive development to be its main focus can not leave a community in dark with living a high risk and right less life. While removing the social stigma is still a long battle, it is for the government to take the first step toward removing the criminal tag from homosexuality.

*Names changed on request.

Anjali Ojha

This battle's already won by Javed Anand

From Indian Express, 16 March, 2010

Opponents of women's representation in Parliament are on the wrong side of history A Muslim woman's place is in her home, not the House of the People, the maulanas say. Our seekers of the `Muslim vote bank' haven't figured it out yet, but a little reflection will show that when it comes to the vote, Indian Muslims couldn't care less about what the maulana sahebs say.

MERCY, Oh Allah! Forgive us all our sins! Indian Muslims must be guilty of committing the gravest of them for why else would You, the Most Benevolent and the Most Merciful, punish us so: saddling us with such Ulema-e-Karaam (Respected Scholars) who embarrass, bring disgrace upon the entire ummah and subject Islam to ridicule every time they open their mouth? They are at it again.
What do I tell my 14-year-old t son, Jibran, who asks, “Dad, why t are your beardos such weirdos?“ My beardos, my weirdos! He leaves me speechless since both reason and logic are on his side. t “How can these maulanas applaud my mom as a mujahid (jihadi) fighting for justice and yet insist that Muslim women must stay locked up in their home? Isn't this hypocrisy, double-standard?“ What can one say in defence of our Respected Ulema for whom the President of India, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the leader of the Congress (the party is in power thanks to her) could not belong to sharif gharana (respectable families) as they don't stay quietly at home?

Since remaining silent is no option, I start by telling my son to look east and west in our immediate neighbourhood. In the national elections held in Bangladesh and Pakistan around two years ago, the ulema parties received a resounding “no“ from an overwhelmingly Muslim electorate. For years, in election after election, the only two contenders for the top political job in Bangladesh have both been women: Sheikh Hasina Wajed and t Begum Khaleda Zia. Had she not been assassinated just before the polls, Benazir Bhutto would most likely have been at the helm, for the third time, in Pakistan. t A Muslim woman's place is in t her home, not the House of the People, the maulanas say. We'll i rather send you home, seems to be the repeated response of Muslim women and men from both Bangladesh and Pakistan. Our own seekers of the “Muslim vote bank“ haven't figured it out yet, but a little reflection will show that when it comes to the vote, Indian Muslims oo couldn't care less about what he maulana sahebs say.

Not just South Asia and Indonesia (Remember President Megawati Sukarnoputri?). The imes, they are a changin' in the Arab world too. By regional standards it's happening fast, and guess what, even some prominent clerics are beginning to chant, “Hello change!“ Do I hear you growling, Respected Ulema, protesting that you are concerned with the “true message of Islam“, not with what wretched Muslims do? Let's talk Islamthen.Intheveryfirstmoment of Islam's birth was the Divine Injunction, “Iqra“ (read). Though I have a long way to go, I have read up a bit. So perhaps we can begin with a simple question.

Muslims believe that in case of Prophet Mohammed the proposiion should read: “My life is His (Allah's) message“. Right?

Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, the daughter of a very successful businessman, not only inherited he father's vast fortune but proved o be a very successful businesswoman herself. A person of mpeccable character she also earned for herself the titles, Ameerat-Quraish (Princess of Quraish), al-Tahira (the Pure One), Khadija Al-Kubra (Khadija the great). Which man would not dream of marrying such a woman?
But for Bibi Khadijah (then 40 years old) none but the best man would do. So she waited. Right?

Enter Muhammad ibn Abdullah in her life. Prophethood would come to him 15 years later. But at age25hetoohadearnedhonorifics for himself: Al-Sadiq (the truthful) and Al-Amin (the trustworthy).
What began as an employeremployee relationship soon developed into a relationship of mutual respect and love. The one to propose was the very confident, eminent, woman achiever. By all accounts it was a very happy, longlasting, monogamous relationship that lasted till the death of Hazrat Khadijah 24 years later. Right? Fifteen years into the marriage, when the Messenger received the first Divine Message in a cave, he was badly shaken, deeply disturbed, not knowing what was happening to him. He reached home trembling and in turmoil, to find Hazrat Khadija stand by him like a rock, greeting him with comforting words, “Joyful tidings dost thou bring! Allah will not suffer thee to fall to shame. Hast thou not been loving to thy kinsfolk, kind to thy neighbours, charitable to the poor, hospitable to the stranger, faithful to thy word, and ever a defender of the truth?“ The world's first Muslim to declare faith in Prophet Mohammed even as he himself struggled to decipher the meaning of his first encounter with Archangel Gabriel was a woman. Right?

Years later, the Prophet's third wife, Hazrat Aisha, once asked him if Khadijah had been the only woman worthy of his love. His reply: “She believed in me when no one else did; she accepted Islam when people rejected me; and she helped and comforted me when there was no one else to lend me a helping hand.“ (Ibn Kathir). No referencetohercooking,sweeping, stitching. Right?

In short, the Prophet's first and only wife for 24 years was not some woman who stayed home and looked after her husband and children. The highly accomplished Hazrat Khadija was his sole soulmate, intellectual partner and emotional sheet anchor during the most turbulent years of his life.

The Traditions of the Prophet (Hadith)alsoreportinstancesfrom his later life when at critical moments he sought and acted on thegoodadviceofhisotherwives.If in the life and example of the Prophet, Allah's Message is embedded, from where did you get the idea that Islam wants women to stay locked up in their homes, Respected Ulema?

While you grapple with this one, hereissomemorefoodforthought.
Do you know that Mumbai's Urdu Inquilab (third highest circulation among Urdu dailies in the country) had a front page editorial by its owner Tariq Ansari on March 11, whole-heartedly supporting the Women's Reservation Bill passed bytheRajyaSabha?Orthat,allfour editions of the Urdu daily Sahafat on March 13 had a front page edit by its editor, Hasan Kamaal, ridiculingallyourobjections?

Why is it that it's mostly Muslim men like you and the Yadav trio who are unhappy with the bill?
Why is it that some Muslim women and men I know are even thinking of an all-India delegation to meet Sonia Gandhi, Brinda Karat and Sushma Swaraj with garlands?
Gender solidarity, maybe?

The writer is general secretary, Muslims for Secular Democracy express@expressindia.com

Inflation en-route recovery

‘Spending is rewarding,’ says the advertisement of a bank debit card. The common man has more money in his pocket now. It is the day after budget and this is what Pranab Da said a day earlier in Lok Sabha without putting it in exact words. In his speech dada said that the economy is back on track, but our careful and seasoned Minister did not rush to take back the stimulus. Fiscal reconsolidation is clearly need of the hour, yet the biggest concern for the aam admi is inflation, something that the budget misses at it talks about inclusive growth. The rise petroleum prices were perhaps the least expected announcement. The excise hike hijacked the whole attention and it was protest echoing inside and out side Parliament ignoring the other aspects of the Budget. Though the FM conservatively announced that the hike will add only 0.41 per cent to the wholesale price index based inflation, the overall effect was selectively ignored. The fear is that this hike will seep into other sectors as energy costs raise. The Budget assumes inflation to average close to 4.5 per cent for 2010-11. This is as per the Reserve banks guidelines which says that in ideal conditions inflation should remain at 4.5 per cent in short term (one to two years) and 3 per cent in long term. The roadmap towards achieving this end is uncertain. Inflation is above 8.5 per cent. The food inflation on the other hand is already sky rocketing touching 18 per cent mark. A person who spent 1000 rupees on food last year, spends 1,170 rupees on the same items at present. This hidden tax is costing heavily the lower and lower middle class. Though the budget has given major exemptions in income tax, the benefit is only for the higher income groups. The real sufferers of the hour are those who already had their income below taxable limits. Shashi Ranjan Kumar, a migrant from Uttar Pradesh working at a showroom in Delhi is one of those worst effected by the price rise. With an annual income of 96,000 per year and a family of five to support, Shashi has nothing to cheer for. “Our condition remains the same, the government is talking about aam admi, but tell me what has a common person like me benefited from the budget. We can not even eat properly, leave alone savings,” says a disappointed Shashi. Speaking on price rise a day before, the FM blamed the crisis on “huge cost of intermediation between farm and kitchen” seeking discussion and suggestions from the MPs. The demand and supply gap has been called as the major factor repeatedly by the government; however, the policy gap is clear. It is disheartening for the spirit of a socialist economy to announce its failure in maintaining its distribution system.
In such scenario, the Budget has filled the pockets of the class that can spend. 25 million tax payers earning over 8 lakh rupees a year will save 4,500 rupees per month. This will without any doubt go to the consumer market further raising the demand. The fears that were there before the budget was announced seem to be coming true with some spurt evident on inflation front. On the other hand, increasing the coverage of indirect taxes, government has secured its income as well. Money will also be pumped into banks to encourage lending. The government is on its path of fiscal reconsolidation after giving much relief last year. Relieved from adverse political pressures, this Budget paves a forward way for further liberalization. Yet, any major reformist decision has been restrained from. Noted Economist Swaminathan Ankleshwar Aiyar notes “The aam admi will get more rhetoric than cash.” Huge expenditure on social sector may generate some benefits for the common man, however, with price rise and a failed distribution system, as the government itself accepted, the common man has been left dry.

To speak or not to speak....

Democracy gives freedom of speech. But the largest democracy of the world has created not only free speakers but also free stoppers. Free stoppers are a special category of self proclaimed keepers of culture and tradition. Their definition of culture, irrespective of sociological or even logical realities, is based on their own theories. It is Goondaraj, a dictatorship which is not even challenged by the government. The Shiv Sena, and its younger competitor Maharashtra Navnirmaan Sena, are two parties that need no introduction. They are Mumbai and Maharashtra’s moral, ethical and even social police. They are the ones who decide who should step on the soil of Maharashtra, they decide who is supposed to work their, who can play and also who can speak and what can be said. The recent episode of Sena vs Shahrukh Khan was nothing new. Shahrukh got a chance to play a real life hero, and he did it candidly. The man who calls himself ‘proud son of Delhi’ went open against Sena and MNS war against North Indians. And as if this was not enough for a controversy, Mr Khan went on to support Pakistani cricketers playing for the IPL. Why were not the Pakistani players taken in his IPL team this time is however a question which confuses. Similar comment came from Amir Khan when he supported Pakistani players as well. The Sena called the two Khans ‘two idiots’, but soon Amir was sidelined and Shahrukh took over the whole controversy. It was nothing short of a real life movie which saw comments and counter-comments. India was meanwhile glued to its TV screen for the drama preceding their favourite stars new flick. No doubt both parties came out winners with this controversy. While Shahrukh got a good promotion for his upcoming movie, the Sena got back its lime light which was stolen by the MNS in recent past.
But this is not the only dictat from these free stoppers. The Sena had said that it wont allow either Pakistani or Australian cricketers to play in Mumbai. Any democratic government is supposed to take concrete steps in such situation, so did the Centre. No, it did not take disciplinary or legal action against the Sena, instead, a Union Minister Mr Sharad Pawar along with BCCI President Shashank Manohar went all the way to Sena Supremo Bal Saheb Thackrey to ‘request’ them for allowing Australian Players in the up coming IPL match in Mumbai. The meeting was of coarse successful because the Sena is now cool on the issue. It is an irony but a fact that in India governments and authorities take permission from other political parties before organising a tournament. No doubt the meeting was purely political in nature as Mr Pawar’s growing distances with the Congress is evident. Yet, it is not a healthy sign to have parties with lathi armed goondas ruling the roost in any state.
While the Sena has got most of the blame for spreading differences, the Congress itself is not much behind. The recent Cabinet decision announcing that only ‘Marathi Speaking’ people can drive taxis in the state shocked the whole nation, specially the central government. Though a U Turn came fast and the very next day Gujrati and Hindi were added to the list, the intentions were already clear. Going the ‘Marathi Manoos’ way is the easy route to the vote bank in the state.
But the story isn’t all about wooing locals. The charisma prince of India Rahul Gandhi went on to impress the whole country hitting right when the iron was hot. Rahul condemned MNS and Shiv Sena in Bihar and then came all the way to Mumbai despite the Shiv Sena’s threat that Mumbai does not belong to his Italian mother. This was not all, Rahul went the Gandhi way and travelled in a local train with the commoners. Now, that is one positive propaganda and perhaps a lesson for those who think politics can not be healthy. Moreover, unlike artists and sports stars, politicians are not a soft target; it would have cost the Sena dearly to stir much action against the Gandhi junior.
At the end, Shahrukh Khan and Rahul Gandhi seem to emerge the real heroes braving what even the administration shies from facing. ‘My Name is Khan’ is running through the country despite some small incidents of protest from the Sainiks. It is too early to say if the Sena is getting weak, as it has re-launched its comment and condemn policy. Meanwhile, the biggest threat to Thackrey senior for now remains his estranged nephew Raj. The ultimate result of the war between the two Senas and the Congress is far for now. It is now for us to answer how long we are going to allow regionalism; cast and religion rule our political decisions.

Farewell to arms? Not yet… by Barack Obama

Nobel peace prize going to Barack Obama attracted much criticism, but it was his speech at the award function which came as a blow on the face for all those who expected some kind of peace miracle from him. “We must begin by acknowledging the hard truth: we will not eradicate violent conflicts in our lifetimes,” Mr. Obama said addressing the paradox of receiving an award for peace as commander in chief of a nation that is escalating the war in Afghanistan as it continues to fight in Iraq. “There will be times when nations — acting individually or in concert — will find the use of force not only necessary but morally justified.” A mix of realism and idealism is what his speech has been called by the press.
His speech simply reiterated the stand carried out by his predecessors of US being out for charity trying to save the world. “Whatever mistakes we have made, the plain fact is this,” Mr. Obama said. “The United States of America has helped underwrite global security for more than six decades with the blood of our citizens and the strength of our arms.” It is out of question if American help is needed in Afghanistan for restoring the democracy it has been hugely responsible in removing. Mr. Obama called for more robust international sanctions against nations like Iran and North Korea that defy demands for them to curtail their nuclear programs. However, he did not say a word on how US money is helping Pakistan build up terror infrastructure, of the help Taliban received from the country in post Soviet attack days.
Quoting Kennedy, Mr Obama stressed upon “not a sudden revolution in human nature but on a gradual evolution in human institutions.” It is arguable though how armed offensives, evading sovereignty of other countries help in the evolution of “human institutions.” The democratic heaven US claims to be has been presented as the ideal of democracy, however it is yet to see how much idealism this Nobel laurel can seed in the values of his own countries foreign policies. His speech to some extent made it clear that US will be what it has been over decades, the self proclaimed custodian of democracy. The way forward or the difference in approach is however clouded by much of idealism only to be washed out gradually with the realities. For now, the message is clear, the war is to continue, and the songs of peace will be sung only at safe havens like the Oslo stage where he gave his speech, or in his home land, the democratic ideal.

“The road not taken” by BJP

Two roads diverged in the yellow woods…. This time we’ll try to take both. This was the message by the new BJP President Nitin Gadkari as he hailed the secular ethos while reiterating the party stand on Hindutva. Upliftment for those standing at the end of the queue, this is the ideal he said the party will follow. Employment generation, poverty alleviation, and financial inclusion of rural areas are the focus of the party according to the new president. “Nation first, party next, self last”, quotes read on the backdrop where a brand new poster with the images of the two mentors, Mr Atal Bihar Vajpayee and Mr L K Advani smiled on to the public along with Mr Gadkari. “I have no personal political goals, I believe in socialisation of politics.” He made it clear that the affiliation with RSS is only an ideological one and it has no control on the functioning of BJP, including his election as the national president. “It is only in BJP where a field worker is elevated to the party president,” Mr Gadkari. With the new line of leadership ready, the way ahead for BJP seems different this time as it is trying to focus on development and secularism, at the same time upholding its old line of Hindutva. How far the party sticks to this approach and how deep the message penetrates into the psyche of the voters is yet to be seen. For now, it the road not taken on which the party is set to venture. The results are awaited.

DIVIDED INDIA: The politics of opportunism and division

Shortsightedness or political maneuvering, UPA’s just before midnight announcement on initiation for the process of creation of a separate Telangana state from Andhra has left deep scars on the face of the state. The issue, though not new, resurfaced strongly at a time when the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh was going through a political turmoil. Not much time has passed after the death of YCR and the party is facing an acute crisis again. Separation movement leader Telangana Rashtriya Samiti Chief K Chandrashekhar Rao declared a fast unto death causing a surge in the movement. Members of Parliament expressed concern over his health on the floor of the House; BJP went on record rendering its support. Confusion remained on the Left parties stand as the CPIM subtly denounced division of states in general. Interestingly, the BJP openly admitted that it could not support Telangana earlier due to the pressure from ally Telgu Desam Party. The ruling party meanwhile maintained that any decision can be taken only with political consensus. With tension raging high in both New Delhi and the state, Andhra CM K Roshaiah flew to Delhi. It was the 10th day on KCR’s fast and the Congress feared a strong backlash from the Telangana districts in case of any untoward incident. The Home Minister, under pressure, or with will, announced the decision of a calculated ‘initiation of the process’ for the creation of Telangana. Mr Roshaiah, who was flying back to Andhra after meeting top leadership in Delhi got the information about the decision in the flight and by the time he landed, KCR was offered juice by his party workers. The real crisis however was yet to begin. Uproars of protest echoed from the other regions and a parallel movement was started for stopping the bifurcation. Over next three days, more that 40 Congress MLAs offered their resignation along with TDP and other parties taking the protesting number within the Assembly to over 130. Rifts in the party became more visible as the party got divided in pro and anti Telangana members. The issue got a perfect stage with Parliament being in session. While the two sections of MPs kept meeting top leadership from Congress and the government, the BJP went on reiterating its demand for a roadmap. A sense of urgency and excitement gripped the media as reporters kept busy following the endless meetings. Fallout in the party looked clear even in the House, the pro and anti Telangana MPs stalked the proceedings during the last week of the winter session. While pro Telangana MPs kept thanking Congress President for the decision, MPs from Rayalseema and Coastal Andhra raised pitch against the bifurcation. Crossing all limits, YCR’s son Jaganmohan Reddy went ahead to join TDP members in Lok Sabha protesting the bifurcation. Later, clarifying his move, he told reporters that he did not want to let TDP take the credit for opposing the demand. Getting a chance to score a point, the BJP accused Congress for taking a decision in haste, while SP expressed confidence that the issue will be put on the backburner. The most unprecedented twist in the story was however brought by the TDP which changed its course standing against Telangana at the last moment after supporting the bifurcation earlier. However, despite of the whole political confusion, the Congress maintained that there is no rift in the party. The sentiment were expressed by the MPs in the same breath as they spoke pro or anti bifurcation. At the end of the day, the Andhra Assembly was adjourned sine die without passing any resolution while the Lok Sabha remained disturbed missing critical debates and bills being passed without discussion.
Though Andhra is worst affected by the crisis, it is not the only state which is disturbed by the development. At least half a dozen state movements have been rejuvenated after the announcement. Lone MP from Bodoland’s People’s Party Mr K Bwiswmuthiary joined the chaos with his demand for Bodoland carve out of Assam. RLD leader Ajit Singh forwarded his demand for Harit Pradesh from Uttar Pradesh and the Chief Minister of the state Ms Mayawati went ahead demanding trifurcation of UP. The strongest reaction came from the Gorkhaland agitators as the movement gained back its momentum demanding a new state from West Bengal comprising of Darjeeling district alone.
Whether or not Telangana is created, the episode has opened a whole new chapter of opportunistic politics in the country. BJP says it supports smaller states in principal, yet it refuses to support Vidarbh (Maharashtra) openly admitting opposition from ally Shiv Sena. Similarly, despite of its poll time promises in Gorkhaland, the BJP has so far kept quite on the issue. Dismissed party leader and Darjeeling MP Jaswant Singh extended full support to the Gorkhaland agitators. For Singh, it is that one chance which can make him a political hero again, the BJP does not want to risk missing an opportunity, nor does it wants to let its estranged member take the credit. Fallouts are evident yet not admitted. At the same time the sanctity of the TRS chief’s Gandhian revolt is shadowed when we look back at the reason behind the formation of the party. The TRS was formed only after KCR was refused a ministerial berth in the Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP government seven years back. With political opportunism and separatist feelings overflowing, Andhra is once again witnessing turmoil and upheaval on an issue which has been kept alive ever since independence. The question remains whether creation of smaller states really answer the development needs for the rural and backward areas. So far, even after creation of new states, development has been witnessed restrictively in the major urban centers and the state capital owing to surge in property value and creation of new government posts. However, problems solving in India have always been shortsighted and political in nature. Whether a solution can be found to creation of close to half dozen states remains a question, however Telangana is presently set on the back-burner for sure.

Need for SRC?
With demands from all quarters arising for further division of states, the need for a second States Reorganization Committee is evident, however all major political parties have refused to acknowledge the need of the hour. While Congress spokesperson hesitantly said that the SRC can only be constituted after political consensus, BJP leader Venkaiyah Naidu rejected the idea emphasizing on case to case basis consideration. However, way back in 2001, a sub-committee of the Congress Working Committee, comprising Arjun Singh, the late Madhavrao Scindia, Ambika Soni, Oscar Fernandes and even then headed by Pranab Mukherjee, concluded that there were “valid reasons” for the formation of separate states of Vidarbha and Telangana, but that a new States Reorganisation Commission was needed to consider the whole issue. It recommended that the Congress ask the Government of India to set up such a commission.
While the CWC accepted the recommendation, says Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh, then home minister L K Advani rejected the suggestion. Singh adds that the Congress stand has been consistent, though the BJP now backs the demand for a separate Telangana state.


History:
In December 1953, the States Reorganization Commission was appointed to prepare for the creation of states on linguistic lines. The States Reorganization Commission (SRC) was not in favour of an immediate merger of Telangana region with Andhra state, despite the common language between the two.
Prime Minister Mr Jawaharlal Nehru initially ridiculed the idea of merging Telangana with the Andhra State, fearing a “tint of expansionist imperialism” in it. Later, he compared the merger to a matrimonial alliance having “provisions for divorce” if the partners in the alliance cannot get on well.
The separation movement gained momentum in 1969 as student agitation for the continuation of the agreement began at Osmania University in Hyderabad and spread to other parts of the region. This movement, also known as Telangana movement, led to widespread violence and deaths of hundreds of people including 360 students.