| Celebrate Telangana Liberation Day, Demands Lok Satta (Telugu) Posted: 23 Aug 2010 04:36 AM PDT |
| Celebrate Telangana Liberation Day, Demands Lok Satta Posted: 23 Aug 2010 04:10 AM PDT
The Lok Satta Party today demanded that the Government celebrate Telangana Liberation Day officially on September 17 since integration of Telangana with the Indian Union was a continuation of the country's freedom movement.
Addressing a media conference, party leaders Katari Srinivasa Rao and Eeda Chennaiah recalled that both Maharashtra and Karnataka celebrate September 17 as Liberation Day in the districts which were under Nizam's rule earlier and became part of those States following the States' reorganization. "None should ignore that September 17 was the day when the country was really united."
September 17 should be an occasion to introspect to what extent the present day leaders sought to realize the dreams of those who fought for the Nizam State's liberation and union with India. "We don't know what happened to the children of Sardar Patel who integrated the princely States with the Indian Union. We do not know the inheritors of K. M. Munshi and Vellodi who served as Governors of the Hyderabad State. The children of Burgula Ramakrishna Rao, the first Chief Minister of Hyderabad, did not live off their father's reputation. Even the children of Mahatma never ran after office. Raj Mohan Gandhi became an MP in his own right and not as a Mahatma Gandhi scion. In contrast, present day politicians viewed politics as a means to enrich themselves and further the growth of their children and grandchildren and not to serve the public. It is such politicians who are mortgaging the country's freedom and not left wing extremists or terrorists. The Telangana Liberation Day should inspire every one to work for uprooting the politics of loot and plunder and dynastic rule and ushering in people-oriented politics."
The party leaders announced that Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan would take part in a sit-in at the municipal office in Ongole as part of the party's program to organize demonstrations at all municipal offices on August 25 demanding elections to urban civic bodies on time. The party's demands include direct election to the positions of municipal chairpersons and Mayors, elected ward governments, and corruption-free rule.
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| Can a commoner enter legislature, Asks Lok Satta Posted: 23 Aug 2010 02:20 AM PDT
It is odd that lawmakers plan to enact a law that benefits only them, said the Lok Satta Party today on the demand for a hike in MPs' salaries.
It would be in the fitness of things if the 15th Lok Sabha cleared a hike in pay and perquisites for members of the 16th Lok Sabha. There is such a precedent in the U. S. President Clinton signed the law that provided for a hike in the salary of the next incumbent.
In a media statement, party General Secretary Katari Srinivasa Rao said that the demand for a higher salary by MPs is understandable. Expecting elected representatives to spend out of their pocket is not proper. At the same time, salaries should not become a source of income. Instead, they should earn income through some honest means.
The real issue, however, is not MPs' salaries. Scores of MPs do not need any salary at all since they happen to be millionaires. Apparently, only those who can spend millions of rupees can step into legislature portals these days. Democracy faces a grave threat if one can enter legislature only with the help of money and not on the strength of one's policies and programs. When a majority of people goes unrepresented because of the influence of money, the divide between the rulers and the ruled widens and triggers unrest. The MPs should focus on such disturbing developments, instead of only on their salaries.
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