Andhra resolves to protect jobs for Hyderabad locals

Hyderabad, March 18: In a moral victory for protagonists of a separate Telangana, the Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly Thursday passed a resolution seeking an amendment to a Presidential Order to protect jobs for Telangana people in the police department in Hyderabad.The one-line resolution moved by Chief Minister K. Rosaiah was unanimously passed with a voice vote amid protests by the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP). Deputy Speaker N. Manohan adjourned the house after announcing that the resolution was passed with a voice vote. Opposing the resolution, PRP legislators rushed to the podium demanding a debate. Legislators of the ruling Congress and main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) did not oppose the resolution. The resolution is being seen as a moral victory of Telangana protagonists, who complain of injustice to people of the region in appointments to government jobs. Earlier, the chief minister had to convince the ruling Congress legislators from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions not to oppose the resolution as his predecessor Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had taken a decision to oppose Hyderabad as a free zone. Through the resolution, the assembly has urged the union home ministry to seek the president's assent for amendment to clause 14 F of the Presidential Ordinance of 1975. The amendment will ensure that Hyderabad remains part of the sixth zone along with other Telangana districts for recruitment to the police department. The resolution was passed to overcome a Supreme Court judgment declaring Hyderabad as free zone for recruitment to the police department. This means that people from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions can also be recruited in the police department in Hyderabad. The judgment evoked sharp reaction from legislators cutting across party lines and they demanded amendment to protect the interests of the Telangana people. An all-party meeting convened by the chief minister Wednesday evening had agreed to the demand for passing the resolution. The decision came a day after the Supreme Court refused to admit a petition of the state government, seeking a review of its earlier order declaring Hyderabad a free zone for recruitment in the police department. Meanwhile, Congress MP from Vijayawada L. Rajagopal met Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan to oppose amendment to the Presidential Order. Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao, who had revived the movement for separate statehood to Telangana following the Supreme Court order last year, had warned the government of serious consequences if it failed to protect the interests of Telangana people. In October last year, the Supreme Court declared that Hyderabad was not a part of Telangana but a free zone as far as recruitments and postings in government were concerned. Telangana, which comprises 10 districts, including Hyderabad, was merged with then Andhra State in 1956 to form Andhra Pradesh. But the people of Telangana were given certain safeguards in appointments under the Gentlemen's Agreement of 1956 and a subsequent Presidential Order and six-point formula. The latest judgment comes at a time when a five-member committee headed by Justice Srikrishna is looking into the issue of statehood for Telangana. (thanks to way2online)
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