Repression of dissent in State of Telangana

Three years ago when Telangana was formed and TRS was voted to power, people seldom apprehended that their voices would be suppressed even in their new state. But, suppression in Telangana is so much so that even Dharna Chowk itself is removed.

The Telangana government has been continuing its autocratic measures and repressing democratic protests against its acts of omission and commission, as is borne by recent incidents.

The TRS government is resorting to neo-feudalism with the formation of farmer societies and making them decide the type and extent of crops to be tilled by the farmers. The proposal of making sanctions from these societies mandatory for farmers to buy or sell their lands is an astringent breach of constitutional rights.

Nominating TRS party workers to these societies and choosing the beneficiaries of several government schemes through them will not only undermine the powers of local bodies but also compel the farmers to support the ruling party. This act of the government is making the farmers feel threatened and insecure about their lands and their choice of farming.

In spite of securing a simple majority, the way TRS engineered defections from opposition parties to weaken them is quite deplorable. From 63 seats out of 119 in 2014, TRS has grown its strength to 90. This is a subversion of democracy. This hurts the sentiments of people of Telangana and disrespects the efforts of thousands of people who laid down their lives for separate statehood.

In another instance of its undemocratic behaviour, the government is framing cases against the students registering peaceful protests. It is an infringement of their fundamental rights. The government would be mistaken if it thinks such acts would control the students who even jeopardised their lives to attain separate statehood to Telangana.

Intolerant as it has been of any kind of protests against its anti-people and undemocratic measures, the government booked false cases against the tribal chilly farmers in Khammam market yard, chained them and jailed them for protesting to get a fair price for their produce. In a deplorable act, the Dalits of Nerella in Siricilla district were subjected to illegal confinement and third-degree torture for raising their voice against sand mafia.

In another incident, the houses of tribals were demolished and women were tied to trees with their sarees by the police in Tadvai mandal of Bhupalpally district. The police are also made to make arrests and order bind overs of BJP workers.

The present regime has time and again proved its dictatorial qualities by suppressing free speech in the state. The Chief Minister has openly threatened certain media houses. The government is misusing all its powers such as government advertisements to coerce the local media into submission. It also intends to control posts on social media and threatens action against offensive posts.

The TRS government has not spared anyone including Professor Kodandaram, the TJAC Chairman who not only played a key role in the movement for separate statehood but also praised the schemes of the same TRS government in the past. It is creating hurdles to his Amarula Spurthi Yatra programme by arresting him and denying permissions for meeting and rallies.

It also acted against Telangana writer and singer Somanna, using the case of his family dispute. At the behest of government, cops are foisting illegal cases against workers of opposition parties such as Congress, BJP and TDP to curb dissent even at village level – an unprecedented way of suppressing people’s voice.

The opposition parties and people at large believe that there is no consonance between what KCR had said before the elections and what he has been doing after coming to power in the state, especially in the case of water, finances and jobs, which formed the core of Telangana movement.

He is also not keeping his promises such as double bed room houses, three acre lands to dalits and jobs to every household. Instead of answering questions on non-fulfilment of promises, the Chief Minister uses derogatory language against the opposition leaders and protestors and resorts to personal attacks to divert the attention of the people.

A statesman of his caliber resorting to such unparliamentary language gives one an inkling of how less he respects people and their values. Above all these undemocratic measures, the Chief Minister is establishing a family rule in the state vesting all powers in his family.

The creation of a Bangaru Telangana cannot be achieved with suppressions. But it can only be achieved by taking every section of the society along. If the Chief Minister does not mend his ways, he himself would become the chief reason for another movement in Telangana. (Writer is BJP Official State Spokesperson, Telangana, and an economist)

By A Rakesh Reddy