One should always think twice before accepting any challenge, but unfortunately for him, the CM of Telangana Chandrashekhar Rao has forgotten this. Taking bets from a party which has already lost all its political clout is a decision any prudent person will dare not undertake; but apparently, Rao has lost its wits. With a mischievous intent to incite, the Congress Party has challenged Rao to speak in favour of the farmer protests; and behold, the Telangana CM has accepted.
Chandrashekhar Rao is scheduled for a three-day visit to New Delhi from Friday. The Chief Minister had also announced that he would lead the agitation against the BJP’s alleged anti-farmer policies.
It is pertinent to note that this was not the original intent of Rao. His visit to Delhi was to lay the foundation stone for the Telangana Rashtra Samithi office building, for which the Centre had allotted the party a 1,100 sqm plot in Vasant Vihar.
However, Congress demanded that Rao should hold a protest in front of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence in Delhi if he was really concerned about farmer issues.
Alleging a BJP-TRS conspiracy, Congress spokesperson Dasoju Sravan said, “They fight on the streets of Hyderabad, but they are friends in Delhi.” Further suggesting that TRS should follow the Punjab Govt, Sravan urged the government to enact farmer-friendly laws.
He said, “Rather than indulging in road-side dramas, the CM must call for a special Assembly session and bring in exclusive State laws to protect farmers and negate anti-farmer laws of India on the lines of Punjab government.”
Clearly, Rao has taken the bait. According to sources, the Telangana CM will meet opposition leaders during his three-day visit to Delhi. During the same, he will also interact with the representatives of farmers associations who are agitating against the Farm Laws in Delhi. Thus, opposing the three agricultural laws passed by the Modi government.
Moreover, Rao is also expected to meet several Union ministers and has sought an appointment to meet with PM Modi.
Telangana CM has seemingly shot himself in his own foot. His decision to protest against the agriculture laws is only to his own detriment. It is a known fact that these protests are being undertaken only by certain vested groups in Punjab and parts of Haryana. The entire country, Telangana included, have no apprehensions against the laws. There are no reports of farmers’ movement of such an extent anywhere else in the country.
Thus, one can easily draw the inference that Telangana farmers understand the intent of the reformative laws and are happy with them. However, Rao has decided to protest against the laws – direct action against the wishes of the farmers in his own state.
Congress, having no political leg to stand on, is keen to garner as much support as it can in its attempt to protest against the farmer laws. However, Rao’s decision to so will deeply impact his own political fortunes. The farmers in Telangana will be highly displeased with his decision to appease the Congress in a manner detrimental to their own welfare.
Rao will ruin his image in the eyes of the Telangana farmers which act as a core voter base in the state. Excitedly accepting the challenge of the Congress Party, without giving due consideration, has clearly been a major political debacle; the long term effects of which Rao will witness in the next state elections.
