Date:28/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/28/stories/2008072852420300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Unite for Telangana

Former TDP leader T. Devender Goud formed a new political party. From this we can understand that whenever certain leaders develop differences within the party, they express resentment and threaten to revive the Telangana agitation. Goud was in TDP and held highest positions and advocated an integrated Andhra Pradesh.

It is strange that now he speaks in a different tone. He was silent when TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu stated that raking up of the Telangana statehood by some parties was a gimmick and those stoking fires of separatism were only looking for political employment. K. Chandrasekhar Rao, president of the TRS also came out from TDP. If KCR and Goud are really serious about the issue they must disband their organisations and form a united front. They must realise that political sagacity in understanding politics is an essential element to achieve their common objective.

M. Satyanarayana Rao,

Hanamkonda

Sops for minorities

This is regarding the announcement made by Chief Minister to Muslim students at Haj House on June 8 regarding fee reimbursement. I am a Hindu mother and my family income is about Rs.75,000 p.a. much less than the Rs. 1 lakh limit announced for Muslims. I have two children who will be joining B. Tech and MBBS this year. What is the sin I, a Hindu mother has committed for not getting fee reimbursement which the Chief Minister so graciously extended to Muslims. Do Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist minorities in Pakistan or Bangladesh get such special treatment from the governments there. When the government is supposed to be secular how can a decision be taken to favour only Muslims and exclude Hindus placed in similar position.

T. Indira Reddy,

Bhuvanagiri, Nalgonda

Irresponsible statement

A Minister in the State cabinet gave a statement recently that there should be a separate State for SCs and STs. The statement is irresponsible. They are just representatives of people and their duty is to integrate people of all communities and not divide them on basis of caste and creed.

Dinakar,

Nandyal