It has come to my notice that certain political actors are mischievously twisting my statement made during debate on Women Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha, specifically concerning the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill and the associated Telangana movement. First and foremost, I reject the deliberate insinuation being furthered by the Opposition, and firmly state my long-standing respect for the martyrs and protesters who sustained the Telangana movement. However, my comments must be seen as a reminder of how the Congress has traditionally betrayed the Southern states. In the case of the Telangana movement in particular, Congress’ betrayal has been stark. Starting with the police firing in 1969 that killed over 300 students and protesters, to nearly 1,200 deaths during the UPA years, the Telangana movement was built on the blood of martyrs who lost their lives due to Congress’ inaction. Even in 2013, the decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh was announced after internal deliberations within the Congress party, while completely sidelining key stakeholders. It is a well-established fact that those who built the agitation were blindsided. Congress’ flip-flopping resulted in hundreds of deaths, including 16 people who died by self-immolation. I have merely highlighted how grossly mismanaged and non-transparent the partition was, which was an affront to the struggles and sacrifices made by the people of Telangana. The reference to the division of the country was made to draw a parallel with how the Congress acted, similar to how the erstwhile British rulers handled the division of Bharat. In conclusion, I reiterate my utmost respect for the martyrs and protesters of the Telangana movement. Their grit and resolve against years of injustice must serve as a reminder to fight the same forces that are attempting to place the Southern states at a disadvantage even today. I also strongly condemn all attempts to misrepresent my remarks, which were only meant to remind the great people of Telangana of their painful history and the gross injustice they endured for decades under the Congress. I want to thank Hon Min Shri @kishanreddybjp Garu, for putting the facts back on the table and highlighting misdeeds of Congress vis a vis Telangana Movement.
