Bitterness, happiness rival themes in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh

While for Telangana, June 2 is the date that stands for the triumph of Telangana regionalism over the hegemony of 'Andhra rulers', Andhra Pradesh condemned the division of the state as unilateral, unjust and irrational. All events in the two Telugu states have been organised around these themes.

Celebrations in Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana, highlighted the fulfilment of the long-cherished dream of the Telangana people. The day-long event began with chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) paying floral tributes to Telangana martyrs at Gun Park.  

Later the scene shifted to Sanjeevaiah Park where KCR unfurled the country’s largest national flag (108 x 72 feet), which fluttered on a post 303 feet tall.

In between, the chief minister laid the foundation for the Smriti Vanam to commemorate martyrs. Later on, the chief minister addressed a huge gathering in the parade ground where he narrated, in minute detail and at great length, how they had suffered in united Andhra Pradesh. 

In the same meeting, he also gave away employment letters to family members of those who had self-immolated for the Telangana cause. 

The celebrations are scheduled to go until midnight in the city, which has turned pink with banners, festoons and flex boards. Even government buildings have been illuminated in pink for the past two days. A spectacular display of fireworks will be launched over the Hussain Sagar lake tonight.

However, the scene at Vijayawada, the temporary capital of Andhra Pradesh, was markedly different. Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu rapped the previous Congress-led UPA government for imposing a division of Andhra Pradesh against the will of the people. He condemned the division, which he claim, was formalised on Italy's Independence Day. 

The only theme that dominated the events in Vijayawada was a repudiation of the division and the Congress party. “There was no consolation to the people of Andhra Pradesh. There was no equal justice,” 

Naidu also administered the ‘Navanirmana pratigna’ (pledge) from the city’s Benz Circle. The pledge was telecast live to facilitate its recitation by people at all levels in the state, from the village level to the district level.

While KCR ranted about the pre-division predicament of Telangana, Naidu highlighted the post–division travails and tribulations of Andhra Pradesh, which he said, lost everything including its capital city and revenue, after the bifurcation.

The pledge asks people to cooperate with CM Naidu in making Andhra Pradesh into among the top three states in India by 2022, number one by 2029 and one of the leading states in the world by 2050.

“We can’t celebrate June 2 as formation day. This is no time for celebrations. Let’s pledge and work to rise like Japan from the rubble after World War II,”  Naidu said calling upon the people to support him in the Navanirman of Andhra Pradesh.