A close analysis of the so-called “Samaikyandhra” agitations for the last two days indicate that Hyderabad is the only issue; and not because of their love for a single state for Telugus.
Almost every politician who clamoured about integrated Andhra Pradesh on the Assembly lobbies and outside only talked out how Hyderabad was developed in the last 53 years. Obviously, all their interests are mostly in Hyderabad, thought the actual “settlers” in rest of Telangana have not raised their voice at all.
Most of these leaders from Andhra and Rayalaseema have been arguing that Hyderabad was developed with the sweat and blood of the tax payers from these two regions and therefore, they have a right over Telangana. So, the Centre cannot take a decision on Telangana without taking into consideration their interests. It does mean that they do not have any special affection to mingle with the Telangana people. “It is surprising. They agree that Telangana does not love Andhra and wants a divorce, because it was a forced marriage in 1956, but still Andhra wants to do “samsaram” forcibly. Obviously, the husband (Andhra) has interest not in the wife (Telangana), but in her gold (Hyderabad),” a Telangana leader pointed out.
Being the capital city, the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad which have now transformed into Greater Hyderabad with the merger of 11 surrounding municipalities and several gram panchayats from neighbouring Telangana district, attracted, over decades, a large number of people from Andhra and Rayalaseema. These “settlers,” as they are called by Telangana protagonists, now constitute nearly one-fourth of 72 lakh population and are strongly opposed to the division of the state. Almost every upper middle class person belonging to Andhra and Rayalaseema regions has a property, small or big, in Hyderabad and their interests have to be protected at any cost.
Besides, a large number of industrialists from coastal Andhra have made huge investments in and around Hyderabad. For instance, Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal, popularly known as Lanco Rajagopal, is developing a huge Special Economic Zone on the outskirts of Hyderabad, besides having investments in several real estate businesses. Satyam Computers, one of the largest IT companies of the country was set up by B Ramalinga Raju, an Andhra settler. Several other IT companies, textile units, shopping malls, educational institutions theatres, and other commercial establishments were set up by Andhraites in the state capital. There have been hundreds of colonies with majority of Andha settlers such as Kukatpalli, Vengal Rao Nagar, Srinagar Colony, Malkajgiri and Vanasthalipuram have come up in the last three or four decades.
On the other hand, a large number of Rayalaseema settlers acquired huge tracts of land around Hyderabad in the last five years, thanks to the patronage from late chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy. “If the Telangana state becomes a reality, all their interests would be hit hardly. That is why there is a strong resistance from leaders of the two regions for the formation of Telangana,” analyses Prof Haragopal of of Hyderabad Central University. That is why are now opposing the formation of Telangana, just for the sake of retaining their hold in Hyderabad.
The Greater Hyderabad which comprises 29 Assembly and four Lok Sabha constituencies is like a mini India. The new international airport at Shamshabad, the ongoing world-class 160-km Outer Ring Road (ORR) project, mega townships along the ORR, over 30 IT Special Economic Zones (SEZs), major real estate projects, new campuses of IT and biotechnology majors, metro rail and other infrastructure projects have all been a major attraction for investments. If Hyderabad goes to Telangana, the Andhraites would forego all these facilities.
That is their grouse.
