Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter ARTICLE 371 FOR HK REGION? BJP’S PLAYS DOUBLE STANDARDS!

By Firoz.T.Totanawala 

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

ARTICLE 371 FOR HK REGION? 

BJP’S PLAYS DOUBLE STANDARDS! 

The BJP has played havoc over the Hyderabad-Karnataka (HK) issue vis-a-vis Section 371. After a long struggle, the Central Government had tabled the Bill to amend Article 371 to accord special status to the Hyderabad-Karnataka (HK) area which would promote the all round development of the area, otherwise famous as the most backward area. As is natural, the Bill went to the Sub Committee headed by BJP’s leader Venkaiah Naidu. The other day the committee tabled its report asking the government to rethink on the issue after consulting and incorporating the state government’s (that is BJP government’s) opinion! 

The report is nothing but negation of the Bill. The central government has introduced the Bill after long discussions-deliberations with all political parties and leaders. More than anything, the people of HK area have welcomed the move even though it fell short of their demands. As this is a constitutional amendment bill, it was referred to the Subject committee of the Parliament comprising of representatives of various political parties headed by a member of the opposition. Presently the committee is headed by Venkaiah Naidu, a former BJP President and a Rajya Sabha member from the state. 

It was expected that the Sub Committee would clear the Bill which would proceed to be passed by the parliament in the ongoing winter session. People in the state were confident of the Bill particularly so when the Chairman of the committee is the two time Rajya Sabha member from the state. Once the Bill becomes law, the people of the HK area would have got preferential treatment in infrastructure projects, education, employment etc. because they will be provided with the protection by the constitution. 

But, people were shocked and disappointed when they learnt that the parliamentary Sub Committee shot down the provisions of the Bill on the simple excuse that the state government opinion has not been obtained before the Bill was tabled in the Loksabha! Venkaiah Naidu, the Chairman has let down the state which gave him the political power. 

Apparently, the central government had consulted all the interested parties including the state’s BJP government before tabling the Bill in the Loksabha. In fact when the Cabinet Committee cleared the Bill and the same was tabled in the Loksabha, it was celebrated all over the HK area. 

Arguably, the state government too had agreed to the Bill and the CM even had gone to Delhi for this purpose. The state should have no objections for providing special status under Art-371 to the HK area. Even in the past, the successive CMs have taken all party delegation to Delhi to press for the same. There may be some differences over the exact amendment - is it under Art-371(a), or like Vidharba model or Telangana model etc. And finally the central government zeroed on separate Art-371(j) to deal with the demands of the HK area issue. 

Arguably, the rejection is necessitated more for political reasons. Normally the Chairman will have the final word in the report. So, why did Venkaiah Naidu shot down the Bill on some flimsy or to that matter, non existing excuse? It is here lays the crux. Everybody knows that the four central ministers S.M.Krishna, Veerappa Moily, Muniyappa and Mallikarjuna Kharge had lobbied hard for Art-371 to the HK. Kharge was on the forefront and when the central government cleared the Bill for tabling the same in the parliament, it was hailed as a gift from the Congress. The Congress was sure to cash it on in the state elections and definitely they deserved the credit. 

But BJP was very much concerned about the Congress taking credit. Moreover, the BJP had all along been not in favour of giving Art-371 to HK area. Everybody knows that during the NDA regime, the then Deputy PM and Home Minister L.K.Advani had categorically rejected the demand for Art-371 to the HK. In fact, L.K.Advani, in a letter to the then Chief Minister S.M.Krishna had ruled out the possibility of according special status to HK area. So, the BJP’s role in the episode is suspect from the beginning. 

As the elections to the state assembly is round the corner and if the UPA government get the bill passed in the ongoing winter session of the parliament, one can be sure of the Congress getting a groundswell of support in the elections. The BJP, on the other hand is desperately trying to keep its house in order what with the former CM B.S.Yeddyurappa divorcing the BJP and prospect of toppling the present government. As things stand today, the BJP wants to deny the Congress of any advantage from the HK area getting special status under Art-371. Venkaiah Naidu, the MP from the state was romped in to do the damage control. Naidu who is the Chairman of the parliamentary committee on Home Affairs has done the hatchet’s man job by rejecting the Bill tabled in the parliament. This eventually makes the Bill acceptance, a remote possibility. 

Naidu, had to invent any excuse for this betrayal. He says that the state government was not consulted before tabling the Bill in the Loksabha. The hard fact is that both Houses of the state Legislature had passed a unanimous resolution asking the central government to accord special status to HK area. In fact, the Bill contains the resolution of the Houses in the preamble! Besides, the state government had out of blue, demanded special status on par with Telangana! And Venkaiah Naidu wants this to be considered before bringing the Bill afresh. 

Interestingly, the Jagadish Shettar government which had suddenly changed its stand from a special provision to Telangana model, just a few days before the winter session of the parliament was to begin, had not consulted the opposition parties and the leaders of the HK movements. Then, why this sudden Volta facie? The answer is purely politics. 

As per the Bill, the HK are will be brought under Art-371 by inserting clause ‘J’. The 371(J) deals with special status to the area in infrastructure, education, employment etc. in addition to constitution of the Development Council. The Development Council implies statutory funding and liberal grant from the central government. As is usual, the governor has to take a final call on its activities, spending etc. And this is not acceptable to the state government which wants the governor to act as its sub ordinate. It is to be recalled that the governor is bound to act on the advice of the cabinet except in rare exceptional situations. 

Allegedly, the state government does not want Development Council because it is an autonomous body and answerable to the legislature. Instead the BJP wants only special status in respect of education employment and industries. There is no reason or logic in BJP government’s sudden change of heart. Venkaiah Naidu’s strategy in coming to the rescue of BJP has become a tragedy. The leaders of the HK agitation have strongly demanded the withdrawal of the state government’s position and let the Bill in the present form to be passed. Finally taken aback at the strong protest, Jagadish Shettar and his BJP government have changed their stand and petitioned the central government to bring the Bill in the present form itself. That is all.