Book Review

                       

M.V.Arithy

EE10B005

Justice Srikrishna's Injustice

How SKC Report tried to suppress truth

and deceive Telangana

&

Why India should Reject SKC Report

 

 

Bibliography

The book 'Justice Srikrishna's Injustice' at the Telugu University Auditorium in Nampally, Hyderabad on March 20, 2011.

Author :  L.Narasimha Reddy

Title : Justice Srikrishna's Injustice

ebook  Website url  : http://missiontelangana.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Justice-srikrishnas-injustice-Book.pdf

 

Reviewer's Note

The central government of India on 3rd February, 2010 announced the five-member Srikrishna Committee on Telangana that would look into the issue of creating a separate state of Telangana in the present Andhra Pradesh. The Srikrishna committee on Telangana submitted its report in two volumes to the Home Ministry of India on 30 December 2010. In an all-party meeting on 6 January 2011, the Home ministry made the 505-page Srikrishna committee report public. A particular section of the report discussed six different possible solutions. There were mixed thoughts about the report. While the government dodged over the issue without any subborn solution, the pro-Telangana activists started to propogatea against the report. They claim that the report is not true in facts, highly biased and is against the sentiments of Telangana people. Since the release of the report, there were numerous strikes in the city of Hyderabad. Till date no proper conclusion has been drawn on the Telangana issue even after months of Srikrishna report. The Telangana supporters started inspiring their fellow people by writing poems, drawing caricatures and publishing books in favour of Telangana. One such book is 'Justice Srikrishna's Injustice' by Narasimha Reddy. The book is contributed by three authors who give evidences to show how the report on Telangana was biased. It is to be noted that the book and its review could contain matter that is highly sentimental and one sided. Readers judgment is best  suggested on such cases. A brief review of the book is given below.

 

Book Review

The book 'Justice Srikrishna's Injustice' is a boon to the Telangana supporters. It not only brings out the need for a separate state but also points out significant errors in the official report of Telangana : Srikrishna Committe Report of 2010.

The first chapter is a report by Sujai Karampuri on 'Why India should reject the Committee's report?'. The author emphasizes that the report fails to provide any practical solutions. The report challenges the ethos of Article 3 of the Indian constitution that gives the will of people the required legitimacy to form a state. The report explains that on a global arena, formation of new nations lead to constraints on its economy. Similarly, bifurcation of a state would lead to instability of economy. The author strongly condemns this with the argument that states in India are not separate nations. These states are democratic and responsible to the centre. They are bound under the single constitution and henceforth could not lead to economic decline. States should not only be formed on the basis of linguistics and economic considerations but also to fulfil the aspirations of its people. A separate state of Telangana would prove to be a helping ladder for the depressed in job opportunities and higher education.

The report argues the if Telangana is formed it would become a landlock i.e., surrounded by landmass. So it would lose all its trade through sea including the rich revenue ports of Vishakapatnam. This would lead to a inflation in Telangana regions of goods that are primarily transported by shipments. The author is totally against this argument.  he gives a contradictory example in his book to prove his stance. In November, 2000 the Indian government formed three new states namely; Chattisgarh, Uttaranchal and Jharkhand from the existing states of Madhya Pradhesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar respectively. It is note worthy that all the three states are landlocked. Yet, they were formed and have shown greater progress in the industrial sector than its erstwhile state.

The report came up with six solutions. One of them was to declare Hyderabad as a Union Territory. Another solution which was highly criticized by Telangana activist was  the proposal of a Union territory that includes a few neighbouring mandals and villages. Interestingly, both the Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar projects were included in the proposed Union territory limits of Hyderabad. The author feels that it is a move to demoralise the feelings of Telangana people and to make sure that a separate state is not formed. When the country was divided into states based on linguistics, Madras had to be separated from Andhra which was earlier under Madras Presidency. The then decision makers didn't make Madras as a Union Territory when a similar conflict arose in1960s for the city. Today, a similar situation is faced. Why not give Telangana its capital as Hyderabad...?

The yet another chapter that would draw the attention of all Telangana supporters is chapter three on the factual errors in the Srikrishna report compiled by Konathan Dileep and Madahv Mudumbai. They have given numerous examples with solid evidences to prove that the report is biased and is not true in facts. A few examples of such an error are given below, which is an excerpt from the book :

“Andhra Pradesh is planning river lifts in a very major way, particularly from river Godavari.”

[Section 4.4.04, Table 4.5, pp.184 & 185]

Kalwakurty, Bheema, Nettempad, Koilsagar, AMRP Lift Irrigation Schemes are on river Krishna, not Godavari. And the projects are in execution stage, not at planning stage

“Government of India has allocated coal from Singareni coal mines to Kothagudam Thermal Power Station (KTPS) in Rayalaseema.”

 [Section 4.9.02, p.222]

KTPS is in Khammam district of Telangana, not in Rayalaseema.

“At an economic power cost of Rs. 6 per KWh, the annual energy cost per year would be Rs. 536.5 crores per year… the total annual charges would be of the order of Rs. 60,000 per hectare per year… Thus, all such (lift) schemes require a much closer scrutiny.”

[Section 4.4.04, p.185]

Committee argues that Lift Schemes are not viable for Telangana region by taking Rs. 6 per KWh as power cost. However, the Central Power Distribution of AP Limited site shows that the Government is charging only Rs. 2.60 per KWh. The Committee puts the annual

electricity costs per hectare (under KLIS) at Rs. 35352. If we take the tariffs that are in vogue from October 2010, electricity costs for irrigating these 3.75 lakh acres would be Rs. 1965.60 million. Hence energy charges per hectare would be Rs. 13104.00 and not Rs.35352 as the Committee would want us to believe!

Source: http://www.apcentralpower.com/customer/retail%20tariffs-final-

22072010.doc [Consumer category HT IV-A, p.3]

The book tries to bring into light the discrimination towards Telangana and that the report  is biased and against the sentiments of Telangana people. The book contains other chapters including 'Subjuectivity, Rationality and Prejudise in SRK's report' by K Amar Nath. This chapter though similar to the first one is a view from a very different perspective. Probably, thats the reason why this chapter was included. There are many appendices included in the rest of the pages that speaks of Telangana history, how the struggle started and the current scenario in Telangana regarding the state bifurcation issue. Overall, in a nutshell, the book is a boon to Telangana supporters.

 

About the Author

Honble Sri Justice L. Narasimha Reddy was born on 1^st August 1953 in an agriculatural family at Gavicherla Village, Warangal District.Studied Intermediate in the Government Junior College, Narsampet.  Obtained B.Sc. degree from C.K.M. College, Warangal.  Did his Bachelors Degree as well as Masters Degree in Law (International Law) from Osmania University. Functioned as part-time Lecturer in Post Graduate College of Law, Osmania University and took classes for LL.M. International Law Students for a period of one and half years. He has been appointed as Standing Counsel for Osmania University in 1985 and remained so for about two years.He was appointed as Government Pleader for Higher Education in the High Court of A.P. in 1996 and worked for about one year, till resignation in January 1997.  Was also Standing Counsel of the Warangal District Coop. Central Bank. He has been appointed as the Senior Central Government Standing Counsel by the Government of India, in the High Court of A.P., in July, 2000.  Elevated as Judge of A.P. High Court on 10.9.2001.