Telangana is must to end injustices: Etela

Telangana Rashtra Samithi floor leader Etela Rajender on Friday stressed the need for immediate formation of Telagana State.

Etela made a comprehensive speech in the State Legislative Assembly during the debate on State Reorganisation Bill 2013. However, he faced multiple interruptions with the legislators from Seemandhra region, belonging to both the Congress and TDP, raising objections to his specific remarks. While thanking President of India Pranab Mukherjee for sending the Telangana Bill to the Assembly for its view, Etela said that the credit for Telangana goes to over 1,000 people who committed suicide for the statehood cause. He alleged that the Seemandhra rulers did injustice to the region during the last six decades and were still trying to stall the formation of Telangana.

Stating that late Prof Jayashankar was a true inspiration behind the Telangana movement, Etela said that it was the continuous struggle of TRS that forced the Centre to accept the statehood demand. Referring to the speeches made on the topic in the Assembly, Etela said that minister Vatti Vasanth Kumar did not speak anything about the injustices done to Telangana regin. TDP's legislators P Keshav and Gurunath Reddy tried to insult to people of Telangana by calling the movement as a personal struggle of K Chandrasekhar Rao. He said that the Seemandhra people have dominated in all fields since the formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1956.

However, Etela's mention of "Idli-Sambhar" while referring to the people of Seemandhra triggerred protest by the Seemandhra leaders. Further, his remarks on Potti Sriramulu, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and Gouta Lakshanna led to the disruption of proceedings following strong protests by the Seemandhra legislators.

Etela listed out the problems being faced by the people in Telangana region. He said injustices were done to Telangana in Jalayagnam scheme and the region was completely ignored in taking up irrigation projects, especially in districts like Warangal. He said while former Chief Minister NT Rama Rao made arrangements to supply drinking water to Chennai, he ignored the Telangana region. He said injustice was also done in supplying drinking water, education, power and other resources. Instead, he said the natural resources like coal, were shifted to the Seemandhra region from Telangana.

The TRS leader also alleged that the Telangana movements were suppressed using force by the Seemandhra rulers and officials. Citing an example, he pointed out how the "Chalo Assembly" was foiled by the police using force.

Etela contended that Bhadrachalam has been a part of Telangana since centuries. He said that voting was not required on the Telangana Bill and the formation of Telangana State could not be stopped with the slogans of Samaikhyandhra.