The constitution of Justice Srikrishna Committee on deciding the fate of Telangana has become a point of heated debates everywhere in the Assembly premises, political party offices and Secretariat.
While pro-Telangana activists are pinning their hopes on positive signals for separate state in the terms of reference of the committee, the Seemandhra leaders are confident that the committee was only a delaying tactics aimed at fizzling out the Telangana movement.
A die-hard optimist in politics recalled a “pitta katha” (anecdote) in this connection: A minister in the court of an arrogant king had to face death sentence for making a critical comment against the king. A day before he was to be hanged, the king came to his cell in the jail and asked whether he had any last wish to be fulfilled. “I have sympathy towards you, since you have been serving me for several years. So, I will grant whatever you want before you are hanged,” the king said.
The minister told him that he was preparing a potion (a sort of medicine) for the king to give him a strong physical and mental power, besides long life. “Sir, postpone the death sentence by one more year. By that time, I will complete the preparation of potion. After that, you can hang me any day,” he said. The king was very much pleased and ordered that the hanging of the minister be postponed by a year. After the king left the prison, a fellow prisoner asked the minister whether he could really prepare the potion. The minister quietly replied: “It’s all in the time. Anything may happen during this year. The king may change his mind on my death sentence; or there could be a coup against him; or he may die of disease or in war; and who knows I may even prepare such a medicine. All that I have got is one more year to live. That’s enough.”
Well, that is the Telangana story as well. The Srikrishna committee would be given one year time and anything might happen in this one year: the Telangana movement may fizzle out; KCR may die; or Seemandhra leaders might agree for division of the state; or the Centre might extend the committee’s term by one more year; or the committee may submit its report within nine months recommending Telangana state. But, Rosaiah will get one year time to be in the chief minister’s seat!
