Since I gave a lengthy explanation about my stand, let me go ahead with my analysis on the events that took place after Jagan’s arrest.
After his release, Jagan expressed his unhappiness over government’s efforts to thwart his trip. With the benefit of hindsight (it is five days since the event) we can safely say that the state government, under the instructions of Delhi party bosses, has done everything to frustrate his tour. They have used police force selectively. The police did not prevent public flocking to railway station. They could have put up barricades and regulated the flow when they were finding that more than required volunteers – on either side – were reaching the station.
The police could have had a dialogue with protestors like Kodanda Ram, Hareesh Rao etc. to hold a black flag demonstration etc. against Jagan’s convoy. This is a perfect, democratic way of protest observed all over the world. They should have convinced them for that so that none of the parties feel defeated.
When you draw a final balance sheet, you can find that Konda Surekha’s men and popularity is much lower than her opponents. Though an ex-Maoist, she has not many takers in Mehbubabad and Surekha’s supporters had to hide in Railway toilet most ignominiously. That being the level of Surekha’s political influence in Mehbubabad, the reception for the ‘yatra’, if allowed, would not have met Jagan’s ambitions and expectations.
Surekha must have realized this state of affairs before 28th. After all her own party leaders were keeping away from the arrangements under the commands of high command. So she could not have refused some kind of compromise. TRS too could have accepted the formula since that would show the state government in poor light that it could not stop Jagan from going ahead with the trip. Thus both the tour and protest could have become successful.
But that did not happen since that was not to the liking of Delhi bosses. Thru state government they saw to it that Jagan could not step in Mehbubabad, leave alone conduct the ‘yatra’. And TRS, wittingly or unwittingly, helped them. It lent muscle power to government’s machinery power.
You must have seen the video clippings of Mehbubabad railway station. How many policemen did you see? All you saw was some young men pelting readily available ballast at each other. (Sorry, middle aged woman called Konda Surekha also, our honorable legislator and one-time minister. This is the quality of the rulers we have!) Anywhere else, on such occasions, you find policemen with cane shields and lathis driving away the miscreants. Here no such thing happened. The valiant ones bombarded the door of waiting room with stones and broke it open. The personal gunmen had to intervene.
This clearly shows failure of police force. It is the same force which could beat up Osmania students and media persons and draw blood out of them. It was the same force which did prevent students from coming near Assembly bhawan on ‘assembly seizure day’. If they so choose, they can control everything. If they don’t want, they can see that you are stoned to death by the mob. If they want, they can arrest KCR on the way to the venue of his fast-unto-death. Or if they so fancy, they allow his men to run riot and on the plea of law and order situation (failure of which has to be placed at the doorstep of police) arrest Jagan on board. (contd.)
MBS PRASAD
[email protected]
