Politics breeding conflict

The seemingly rising conflict between the successor States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over the proposed projects by Telangana State government on Krishna and Godavari rivers is more political than substantive.

Owing to intense pressure from the opposition Congress and YSR Congress , the ruling Telugu Desam in Andhra Pradesh has also taken a strident anti-Telangana stand with the State government deciding to approach the Centre and even move the Supreme Court.

The Andhra Pradesh Congress was groping in the dark after it was severely punished by the people of the State for what they felt the most arbitrary division of the State. The political existence of Congress in Andhra Pradesh still remains elusive with people’s anger failing to evaporate.

The grand old party is zealously searching for issues that can revive its political fortunes. Two issues lured the Congress. First is the NDA government’s denial of promised Special Status for Andhra Pradesh, and the second is irrigation projects in Telangana. But, the Congress too faces uncomfortable questions on the issue as it was primarily responsible for not including the Special Status in the Reorganisation Act.

The promise of Special Status was the basis for the reorganisation of the State. The Congress naturally suffers from fundamental disadvantage on anything that has a link with the division of the State. Therefore, the Andhra Pradesh Congress was perhaps the first to raise its voice over the Telangana projects.

But, the silence of the Telangana State Congress over the allegations of its Andhra Pradesh counterpart is certainly conspicuous. True to its character, the Congress displays an ugly spectacle of taking a diabolical stand on a sensitive issue that has a potential to rouse sentiments on both sides of the rivers Krishna and Godavari.

Suffocated by the growing desertions, the opposition YSR Congress leader has suddenly taken to the streets to protest. But, Jaganmohan Reddy is extra cautious not to antagonise the TRS or the Central government but chose to mount his attack exclusively on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

Under political compulsion, Chandrababu Naidu broke his silence. He quotes the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act to justify his appeal to the Centre to intervene. The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet calls the proposed projects in Telangana as violation of the Reorganisation Act.

But, why did it not seek the Centre’s clearance for its Pattiseema project? If it’s a violation of act, both the States are responsible for this. The stand taken by the Andhra Pradesh government would prove to be fatal for the TDP in Telangana.

Amidst this political heat, parties should not lose sagacity and political statesmanship. Neither Andhra Pradesh nor Telangana should use over and above the waters allocated to them. The conflicts over irrigation projects over inter-state rivers should be solved in a spirit of mutual accommodation.

The riparian States have to respect the mutual rights. The political parties with their double standards are only complicating the issue. Politics should not be allowed to breed on inter-state rivalry. The unabashed ambivalence has already taken a heavy toll of social and political fabric in the two States before and after bifurcation. Stop this menace.