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Remembering Prof Jayashankar on his 8th death anniversary

"There are a few individuals, who after making their exit physically leave deep marks of their life as they make it very purposeful.

Jayashankar Sir is one, among them who devoted his entire life for the cause of Telangana. With his simplicity in living, clarity and brevity in expression, he enlightened the masses, mesmerized the political leaders and impressed the intellectuals."

This is an extract from 'The Hans India' daily dated 21st June 2012, which brought a special edition in the memory of this great personality.

Prof. Jayashankar Sir is aptly remembered as "Telangana Jatipita" by the people of Telagnana. He is a doyen of the Telangana Movement who enlightened and guided the masses, intellectuals and politicians about the injustices meted out to Telangana region.

He involved in the movement for the Telangana cause since 1952 agitation for implementation of Mulki Rules till his last breath in 2011 during last phase of Telagnana State movement. Prof. Jayashankar's biography is nothing but history of Telangana movement.

Though he, himself never claimed as an ideologue, people were fond of calling him as the 'ideologue of the Telangana movement'.

He recognised the involvement of masses in the movement as the most essential part and he also perceived that the political activity must be accompanied along with it.

His search for a right leader who can implement these strategies ended with finding KCR who got the ability to understand issues and impart the masses in their colloquial language and at the same time having a strong political commitment and determination.

He advocated non-violence in the movement as he already experienced in the 1969 movement that the violent movements are prone to be suppressed easily. It is one of the main reasons for the success of the movement in its last phase.

These strategies paved way for the involvement of the masses in the movement in large scale and at the same time deterred the governments from using force against the movement.

He rightly grasped that the root cause for the backwardness of Telangana people and the region is the rule of Andhra elite and came to conclusion that only self-rule will change the situation.

The activists in Telangana prevalent at that time broadly followed, either nationalism or socialism. Both streams were having the view that the Telangana issue is a small part of their larger aims. If they achieve their larger goals, Telangana issues will be resolved automatically.

In fact, this was one of the tact and ploy implemented by the Andhra intelligentsia to divert the thought process of the Telangana youth and intellectuals. But, Jayashankar Sir had rightly perceived the problems and solution for grievances of Telangana and formulated a strong ideological base for the Telagnana Movement.

He advocated that once Telangana got liberated from the clutches of Andhra rule, the larger goals of equality and development of the State of Telangana and the Nation are inevitable.

He respected everybody irrespective of their ideologies and backgrounds and worked with them without any inhibitions if they are working for the cause of Telangana. That is why everybody in Telangana revered him.

As he speaks with a strong base of knowledge, intellectuals all over the country irrespective of the region or State they belonged to, have revered him. The people of Telangana are indebted to Jayashankar Sir forever.

Salla Vijaya Kumar, Secretary, Telangana Engineers JAC

Needed, a war on crime against women

It is disheartening to hear the news of females of all ages are being subjected to insult , humiliation, teasing, abuse, rape, kidnap, torturing and killing in different parts of the country , most of them not being reported ,few of them being reported. Those few reported cases are growing viral - Delhi, Kathua, Alighar, now Warangal .

During the last ten years , the incidents have grown double . If we add the unreported cases too the figure will be Everest high. No respect for females, no fear of punishment, delayed justice delivery system, indifferent attitude of governments- central, state, local , impact of cinema , tv serial and porn etc are found to be the causes of such crime . There is no safety for females in our country. This is high time that all the governments should act proactively in coordination with each other .

Let us involve Police Homeguards, NCC and NSS and NGOs in this project. Let us have more lady police officers. The whole world is watching us, whether we take it serious or continue taking it easy.

Let us tighten our belts. Let us raise to the occasion. Let us open our eyes. When we could do Swachh Bharat , why cannot we curb crime ? We can. Let us be determined. Let us take a oath. War against crime against women

Let it start with Warangal . Let the whole nation follow Warangal in this movement. Let Taraka Rama Rao lead this historic movement . Let Kiran Bedi be advisor . I am sure it can happen.

K L Rao, Visakhapatnam

'One Nation, One Poll' welcome

The recent decision by the central government to constitute a committee to examine the feasibility of holding simultaneous elections for both the state assemblies as well as the Lok Sabha is a significant move.

There are several advantages with simultaneous elections as they reduce the humungous amount of expenditure incurred on conducting the polls now and then. The recent general elections cost a whopping amount of 60,000 crores, which is a rise of more than 40% from the previous general elections in the year 2014.

Besides reducing the expenditure, the government can concentrate more on developmental works without bothering much about the upcoming elections.

If the elections are held in different times, as the past experiences show, the political parties resort to giving phoney promises and making policies which deliver ephemeral comforts to lure the voters without any proper long-term goals, which will have an adverse impact on the economy in the long-run.

At the same time, some scholars are expressing their apprehensions on the consequences of 'one nation-one election', such as what if the governments collapse in some states.

Will there be by polls to form the new government or will there be autocracy by the governor for the remainder who is not directly elected by the people, which may cause policy paralysis.

Similarly, what if the government in the centre collapses in the middle of the term? Will there be president's rule with a group of ministers for the rest of the period? Alternatively, will there be elections to form the new government in the centre for the remaining period?

To obliterate these apprehensions, there must be scrupulous provisions regarding the usage of Article 356, the no-confidence motion, and the bye-elections. There needs to be a clear political consensus regarding the same without giving scope to any ambiguities.

The simultaneous elections may prove to be beneficial for the economy if they are implemented in several stages without being in haste. There must be proper administrative arrangements and vigilance to the practical complications, without jeopardising the federal structure of the country.

Mejari Mallikarjuna, Kuravapalli, Chittoor dt

Wanted a close look at defections

This has reference to your editorial on "BJP raises its ugly head, out to sabotage democracy" (Jun 21). Recently four TDP MP's switched over loyalties to BJP.

Previously some 10 Congress MLA's from Telangana state jumped ship to Telangana Rashtriya Samithi party headed by KCR. Few TMC MLA's and councillors switched sides to BJP in West Bengal. Politicians change their sides only because of power and money thus deceiving the people and the party.

It cuts at the very root of democracy. Fielded by a party, winning the election and changing affiliation is an insult on the people/party that fielded and elected him. For position and power, politicians change affiliations every now and then is quite unfair, illogical and undemocratic.

They are not ashamed of their actions.

Former CM of AP Mr Naidu has come out with an explanation that changing loyalties is not new to his party. He himself has deceived his father in law and took over the reins of the party by staging successfully a surprise coup when NTR married Lakshmi Parvathi in 1995. Akhilesh Yadav did the same thing to his father now.

These incidents are quite undemocratic. The anti-defection law of our country needs to have a relook since politicians act unfairly. Those who change their sides should be made to lose their post first.

Re-election should not be held. The runner up in the previous elections should be given the next chance. It will go a long way in solving the defection problem.

Sravana Ramachandran, Chennai

TDP equally to be blamed

Following emphatic drubbing in recent general elections the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) plunged into deep crisis with the joining of four of its Rajya Sabha members in BJP on Thursday.

The break away group led by former Union Minister YS Chowdary is technically qualified to merge with the BJP as this group has two third majority of its total members (6) according to the 10 th Schedule of the Constitution.

Only one -and -half years ago the TDP snapped its ties with the BJP on the issue of the Special Category Status (SCS) to AP as per the promise of the Congress party in Parliament at the time of carving Telangana State.

Now the same party members joining that party saying only the BJP led government can strive for the all -round development.

This episode shows in the current politics ideological basis has no meaning but personal interests play crucial role in choosing political parties .

Moreover the TDP made mockery of anti-defection law when it was in power and so it has no morality to raise the same now. In this regard the YSRCP's stand is absolutely right as it saying anyone who would like to join in it must resign to the position his/ her held in the party which he/ she wants to leave.

Pratapa Reddy Yaramala, Tiruvuru

BJP disappoints

It's very shocking to know about the defection of four RS MPs of the TDP into the BJP. What signal does the BJP want to give to the nation.

By accepting highly tainted politician of a regional party the BJP has demeaned its image by itself.

Whatever explanation they give, they cannot the pacify the common cadre who worked for the party without expecting any benefit.

As a supporter of the BJP, I am not able to digest this worst development in the party.

Venkata Seshasai Deevi, Narasaraopet