International Association Of Independent Journalists Inc.

[IAIJ]

Building of Capital requires determined efforts.


By Doruvu Paul Jagan Babu (India)


12 years of continuous efforts, self-immolation of more than 1200 people from Telangana region and the decisive leadership accomplished a new state – Telangana from Andhra Pradesh. Now Telugu people have two states, one is Andhra Pradesh with 13 districts and the other one is a new state Telangana with 10 districts. In the recent 2014 general elections, people have given clear mandate for TDP (Telugu Desam Party) and TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samiti) to form governments in the respective states - Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

It is a serious allegation by the opposition parties that the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government deliberately bifurcated Andhra Pradesh for their own vested interests without doing equal justice to both the states, for which it paid a huge price in the recent 2014 general elections in India. As a result, the people voted the UPA out of power in the center. In three decades of electoral history of politics in India, people had given clear mandate for NDA (National Democratic Alliance) to rule the country and the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) emerged as the single largest party. Now Narendra Modi is the prime minister of India, in whom the majority of people pin hopes for the development of the nation in all respects. This is the brief history of current politics in the nation, before moving to the issue of building capital in Andhra Pradesh.

Now an immediate gigantic task ahead of the TDP government led by the Chief Minister designate Nara Chandra Babu Naidu is building a new capital city in Andhra Pradesh. Even before the swearing-in ceremony of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, which is scheduled to take place on June 8, the chief minister designate amplified his agility for the building of the capital. He constantly kept meeting the Prime Minister, Finance Minister and Water Resources Minister and other concerned central ministers for the allocation of required resources and financial assistance as part of immediate attention to the building of capital in Andhra Pradesh. A major news channel ABN began to telecast the show of donors to inspire the people to donate something to the building of the capital. This show is drawing a huge response from the people of Andhra Pradesh and they have begun to contribute their share with a sense of message that it is a collective responsibility to build the capital.

Any political party can claim in any part of the world that they can do everything as promised and planned. It takes a long time to solve and find solutions to the problems which the state consists of. With the bubbling enthusiasm of people’s clear mandate, The TDP leadership is saying that they are very united, committed, corrupt-free, dedicated and are able step by step to bring to the state the changes which the people looked for and promised in the party manifesto. As a matter of fact, all political parties are saying the same. It is true that it takes a long time to develop a new state which is for a long haul. To make state better-off and robust needs several years of intense effort and a united, committed, corrupt-free, dedicated leadership at all levels. It will require leaders who are exceptionally loyal and hard-working both in the state and in the nation. After bifurcation of the state, the political pundits analyzed that giving clear mandate for the TDP was building the state, which is one of the major reasons for the victory of the TDP.

There is a saying that Rome was not built in a day. Equally, it is applicable to Andhra Pradesh now. It will require ripeness, solemnity, wisdom, rectitude and courage to push the state forward and move the people out of this predicament and give them a feeling of security and great confidence in the future. It will take long to get where the people deserve to be and where the state should be. It won't be easy. No one has magic remedies for the challenges and problems the state is facing. Resolving those problems will require the application of tremendous efforts. At certain times, the difficulties may appear to overshadow even the favorable conditions. Everyone must strive to persevere unceasingly to stand together in unity, dedication, commitment, corruption-free and work together to achieve the goals ahead positively.

But it is a bit unreasonable to think that the ruling political leadership of the state alone, on its own, can do all these things required for the development. It is up to everyone to do his part without fail. It is a known fact that the best government in any part of the world cannot achieve much on its own, without people’s active and positive participation. And it will also be wrong to expect a general remedy from them only. Freedom and democracy include participation and therefore responsibility from every one of us. We should realize this simple truth, said Lok Satta Chief Jayaprakash Narayan in one of his TV interviews.

Undoubtedly, we have hard work ahead. There is no resting for any one of us till we achieve this, till we make the people of Andhra Pradesh what destiny intends them to be. Everybody wants new capital to be a real global city. Generally, this right intention should keep us on the right path, on the verge of bold progress and we have to live up to that high standard. All of us, to whatever political party, religion, cast and creed we belong, are equally citizens of Andhra Pradesh with equal rights, privileges and obligations. Being a united and disciplined people, let's wisely build our capital without praise or reward to serve our state and nation with integrity and honor. The present state of Andhra Pradesh certainly demands an incessant striving so that we may remove the peaks that stand in our way to development. This is the strong message of some observers.