With newspapers screaming that the city is under siege, with pictures of
policemen at all corners, we wonder whether this is the India we fought for.
Congratulations Chief Minister!! It must be said that you are a great
administrator. The manner in which you have protected the State Assembly and
all its very honourable members shows beyond doubt the great respect you have
for the democratic institution. You obviously took the hard decisions to ensure
that the democratic institution (the State Assembly) is not affected or
derailed by any outsider. You realised that when there is a protest in the state
nay even the city, you and your colleagues must not be perturbed or effected.
It is indeed praiseworthy that as the Chief Minister you understood the value
of Legislative business and ensured that the common man does not walk in
protest to the State Assembly.
These bandhs are causing great inconvenience to the public. People are not able
to go to malls for shopping, some people are not able to go and see films of
their choice, saloons and opticians are forced to close down their shops,
restaurants and petrol bunks are forced to draw down their shutters, stones are
pelted on killer buses – all this without cause. It is only the ‘minority’ who
are the trouble makers and giving up their life and careers for a separate
state. Your theory that the majority should not suffer because of the political
adventurism of some people will earn you a royal position in the history of the
state.
It is an interesting take and fodder enough to political scientists and
sociologists to develop on your great theory that in a democracy ‘the State’
shall decide on what issues, how, where and when should people protest. Your
theory that the people should not protest because you disagree with the cause
is a very interesting facet of democracy. Once universally accepted many
persons hitherto branded as fascists, dictators will find better acceptance in
the world.
One more act from you will project you in proper light. I seriously suggest you
and all those who support your brilliant administrative skill-sets in
sabotaging the Chalo Assembly call must now remove from the premises of the
State Assembly the towering statue of the naked fakir. You may also appoint GoM
to visit Soviet Russia and pick up a nice statue of one of their haloed leaders
and install it in place of the statue of the Mahatma. It will send the right
signal to the people that we are a disciplined democracy and sterner measures
will be taken by the state if the law breakers have any political demands. Do
not forget to honour the learned Anurag Sharma for his great performance.
I hope the High Command is watching and suitably awards you. Unfortunately our
democracy does not have the practice of awarding knighthood. But this should
not deter you from executing your ideas or understanding of the old lifestyle
called Democracy. After all everything is changing around us. From Greeks to
geeks is the road of development. Your concern for the safety of the common man
requires more than a stiff salute. Even if you fail to bring to the notice of
the High Command your great role in putting down the agitation with an iron
fist I’m certain Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad will do so. Be assured.
There will be some nuisance in the form of Article 19 and Article 21. Some
trouble mongers will remind you about the days of the Emergency. You can put
them behind bars under various enabling statutes or even pass a new bill. As
long as it is against the people of Telangana even the Leader of Opposition and
his yellow brigade will support you. It is great to see the Assembly in active
session unmindful of the chaos on the streets of Hyderabad. By sealing off all
the roads and by placing posse of khakhi and even RAF you have ensured that
there is no inconvenience suffered. It is a red letter day in the city and the
state. It is reported that in Warangal agitators have been warned that they
will be deprived of their rations and pensions. Wonderful original idea!! With
such a good idea all agitations can be stopped. Remember the trial of Fidel
Castro and what he said in his famous History Will Absorb Me speech.
As part of nuisance value I may quote from the French Declaration of the Rights
of Man: When the government violates the rights of the people insurrection
is for them. The most sacred of rights and the most imperative of duties.
History will absolve some. Absorb some.
L. Ravichander.