A political row has broken out in Telangana after the Revanth Reddy government’s proposal to confer a Padma award on Gaddar alias Gummadi Vithal Rao — a revolutionary balladeer, renowned folk singer, and also a Maoist sympathiser — was ignored by the Centre.

The Chief Minister was peeved that his government had recommended five names — Gaddar, educationist Chukka Ramaiah, poet Andesri, poet-singer Gorati Venkanna, and poet-historian Jayadheer Tirumala Rao — for various Padma awards and not one of them made it to the final list. He termed it an insult to the “four crore people of Telangana”.

The issue escalated when the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay, commented on the State government’s decision to recommend Gaddar. He said, “Giving a Padma award to those who championed Naxalism is like spitting on the graves of martyred police officers and BJP karyakartas who fell victim to [the violence propagated by those who follow] this ideology. It is a betrayal of the families of these brave officers. How can the State even consider honouring a person investigated by the NIA (National Investigation Agency) for fuelling violence?”

The State government argued that the names were sent after careful consideration of the contributions of the five individuals in the fields of art, culture, education, people’s movements, and protection of tribal culture. It said that their roles in the movement for Statehood could not be ignored. An angry Chief Minister said that he would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the issue.

Since the creation of Telangana in 2014, one Bharat Ratna (to former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao), three Padma Vibhushan, seven Padma Bhushan, and 41 Padma Shri awards have been presented to people from the State. But the Telangana government has alleged that there is discrimination against the State. While some States have managed to secure more than 10 Padma awards, it argued that Telangana received only two this time — a Padma Vibhushan for gastroenterologist Dr. Duvvur Nageshwar Reddy and a Padma Shri for Manda Krishna, the founder-president of the Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti.

While Gaddar, who died in 2023, was a Maoist sympathiser, he is a popular figure in Telangana. Gaddar, a Dalit, was an engineering dropout. He was attracted to the Maoist movement in the 1970s and spent over a decade underground working as its cultural ambassador. Often referred to as ‘Praja Yuddha Nauka’ (war ship of the people’s movement), Gaddar’s role in the Telangana movement between 2009 and 2014 is acknowledged not just by the people, but also by political parties.

In fact, Mr. Modi paid Gaddar glowing tributes in his condolence message to the poet’s family on August 21, 2023. Mr. Modi’s letter read: “The themes of his poems and folk songs in Telugu reflected the challenges faced by the disadvantaged sections of the society. His creative works also provided encouragement to the people. He always remained passionate about the progress of Telangana. His contribution towards revitalising a traditional art form will be remembered by the people.”

This is why Mr. Bandi Sanjay’s comments have not only angered the Congress, but also divided the State BJP unit and put them in a spot. While some party cadres support his stand, others point out that the Prime Minister, too, has acknowledged the activist’s contribution. They also worry that by openly claiming that the Centre decides who should get the awards, Mr. Bandi Sanjay has created the impression that favouritism takes precedence over merit.

There is a clear political angle to the decisions too. The Centre reportedly felt that by recommending certain people who were active during the Statehood movement, the Revanth Reddy government was trying to woo the cadres of the Bharat Rashtra Samiti. Gaddar’s daughter, Vennela, was given a Congress ticket in the Assembly elections. She lost the election and is now chairperson of the Telangana Samskruthika Saradhi, a cultural wing of the State government.

While the Centre may have a point, Mr. Bandi Sanjay’s remarks have not only provided ammunition for the Telangana government, but also divided the BJP. More crucially, they seek to undermine the contributions of a man who fought relentlessly for the rights of the marginalised.

ravi.reddy@thehindu.co.in

Union Cabinet Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Bandi Sanjay Kumar. File.
| Photo Credit: G N RAO

Former BJP Telangana president and Union Minister of State for Defence Bandi Sanjay Kumar, on Sunday, said the Congress government’s proposed ‘Praja Palana Dinotsvam’ celebrations on September 17 is yet another sign of its “double standards” and “duplicitous” stance on the Hyderabad Liberation Day.

“Who asked the State government to change the nomenclature to ‘Praja Palana Dinotsvam’? Does it mean there was no people’s governance in the previous regimes of the party? It has no right to talk about Telangana when around 1,500 lives were lost during the agitation for separate State,” he said.

Addressing a press conference at the Parade Grounds after inaugurating a photo exhibition along with Rajya Sabha MP K. Laxman and other party leaders, he charged that “one party made use of ‘Telangana’ name, looted the State and was kicked out by the people. The same fate also awaits this government if it chooses to ignore people’s sentiments. Both parties are known for boastful talk,” he told mediapersons on Sunday.

Acknowledging that he had received the government’s invitation for the programme, he said the party leaders are ready to attend if the ‘Praja Palana Dinotsvam’ name is changed. “They (Congress leaders) can attend our Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations here at Parade Grounds after their official function. There is no harm in having two programmes and our programme is apolitical,” he maintained.

The BJP leader wondered why the Congress had never bothered to celebrate Liberation Day when in power and took objection to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy praising Majlis leaders when the party itself is “an offshoot of the Razakkars responsible for atrocities on the people of Telangana during the Nizam’s rule”.

The Modi government has decided to make people aware of the circumstances in which the Hyderabad State was joined into the Indian Union through Operation Polo by the then Home Minister Sardar Patel. “Did they (Congress party) ever recognise the services of valiant freedom fighters behind the Telangana struggle or even Sardar Patel,” asked Mr. Sanjay Kumar.

He also called for inclusion of Sardar Patel’s life and that of many unsung martyrs in the textbooks for the future generations to understand their contributions.

Earlier, legislature party leader A. Maheshwar Reddy told another press meet that Congress-ruled Karnataka has been celebrating the day and there is no reason for Telangana government to do the same instead of getting “worried” about losing minority votes or “fearing” Majlis party. Even if the Chief Minister tries to coin a new nomenclature for the day, people of Telangana were well aware of Liberation Day struggles, he maintained.

Finance Minister mentioned Telangana only once by promising to support the Indian Institute of Millet Research, Hyderabad as the Centre of Excellence.

Congress Lok Sabha member N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha on Wednesday was highly disappointing for Telangana. Further, he described it as an ‘anti-poor and pro-corporate’ budget.

Speaking to mediapersons at New Delhi after presentation of the Union Budget, Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy said no specific announcements have been made for Telangana in the budget speech. “The Finance Minister did not even mention anything about the fulfilment of promises made under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. The BJP government did not honour a single promise made through legislation passed by the Parliament in 2013,” he said.

“In the 58-page budget speech, the Finance Minister mentioned Telangana only once by promising to support the Indian Institute of Millet Research, Hyderabad as the Centre of Excellence. But no funds have been promised. We’ve seen several such fake promises by Modi’s government in the past,” he said.

Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the BRS government headed by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was equally responsible for the utter neglect of Telangana in the Union Budget. “KCR has failed to build pressure on the BJP to get adequate funds for Telangana. In the initial years, KCR acted as a devoted ‘Modi bhakt’ and now he is enacting the dramas of rivalry with the BJP. Earlier he supported and strengthened Modi and now he is focused on building his image as a ‘national leader’. He never cared for Telangana and did nothing to get the new State its due share in the Union Budget,” he said.

The Congress MP also slammed the BJP leaders of Telangana for not making any efforts to get funds or big projects for the State. “Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, Telangana BJP president Bandi Sanjay and other two MPs miserably failed in convincing their party’s government to allocate sufficient funds for the State. They only enjoy playing blame games through media in the State, but show no courage to fight for the interest of Telangana in Delhi,” said Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy.