| Apart from the usual rhetoric against the police and the political parties, speeches by the PWG representatives on the occasion surprisingly made the Telangana Rashtra Samiti president K Chandrasekhara Rao (KCR), a specific target for criticism. |
| Terming K Chandrasekhara Rao as a 'great betrayer'of the Telangana cause after former chief minister M Chenna Reddy, Revolutionary Writers Association (Virasam)'s Varavara Rao alleged that KCR received Rs 5 crore from a media baron to ensure "protection of that man's ill-gotten assets" in Telangana. |
| More than the allegation, the timing and tone of the K Chandrasekhara Rao bashing by the People's War Group from the heartland of Telangana has itself raised several eyebrows, apart from bringing great delight in the state Congress here. |
| Going by the previous utterances of the underground leaders of People's War Group and the latest criticism of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti founder, it is clearly an indication that the armed Left-wing outfit with its frontal organisations aims at making use of the new found political freedom to take over the mantle of Telangana statehood demand. |
| At least its immediate political strategy would be to further its influence over the masses of Telangana through the movement for a separate Telangana state. |
| The simultaneous proclamation by the Anantapur People's War Group secretary that it would support the movement for a separate Rayalaseema state made its overall political strategy amply clear. |
| Importantly, the PWG has always supported the demand for a separate statehood for the Telangana region and has amply indicated in the past that it was more than willing to lead such a movement. |
| Before debating on what the future political movement for a separate Telangana state would look like, it is clear that the TRS would face problems in the naxal strongholds if it does not follow the diktats of the PWG. |
| In fact, the PWG's criticism came as a surprise to many, as it was thought that the party had the invisible patronage from the naxalites in the recent concluded Assembly elections. |
| Though KCR bashing is a cause for delight to his detractors, especially in the Congress and TDP, matters could become difficult for the state government too, if no progress is achieved towards the creation of a separate Telangana state. KCR has time and again said that a separate Telangana would be a reality by the end of this year. |
| Coming to the question of 'peace', the orators at the meeting had clearly stated that peace was an essential instrument to further the 'people's war' in order to achieve the ultimate aim of 'power to the people'. |
| They also said that there was no question of laying down arms. In such a scenario how peace would be achieved is a moot question, nobody is willing to answer. |
| "No one had any illusions about the PWG laying down arms during the process of peace talks. And the government also may not fulfil all the demands put forward by them in the course of the talks. Yet the talks could result in great relief to the people of the state who despise the mindless violence on account of certain actions of both the parties," Y Venkateshwar Rao, CPM secretariat member told Business Standard. |
| According to him, peace was possible only if the government ensured that fake encounters did not happen while naxalites simultaneously stopped killing people, whom they tagged as 'informers'. |
| He also said that a democratic space would be available to the people and others, including PWG to raise and settle the issues politically. |
| There is also a feeling that behind the veil of peace talks, the government and the PWG are also trying to outwit each other by trying to put the burden of responsibility for the violence on each other. |
| The government has according to analysts played its cards well , so far. |
Top Section
Explore Business Standard