Silence is not Golden

Chandra Babu Naidu is busy with issues lke Crop Holiday and Anti-Corruption movement of Anna Hazare. It is another matter that hundreds of farmers committed suicide during his regime and his party had opposed the suggestion of making Hazare, the Chairman of the Drafting Committee.

But it is his deafening silence on other burning issues like Telangana Movement, CBI enquiry against Jagan and deletion of Clause 14(f) of Presidential Order that calls for one's attention.

Poor man is scared of local media. Only a few contrived photo-ops for him to continue in news without actually saying anything significant on burning topics. Also he keeps himself busy with 'discussions' with other unemployed persons from has been-parties like SP, CPM, CPI, LJD, etc. He shies away from touring Telangana region despite the Black Cat protection. This so called CEO says he will not harass government employees in future.

All the leading Andhra politicians have taken a definite stand on the future of AP one way or the other except Naidu. His party says that Congress should reveal its mind first. Congress revealed its mind by Chidambaram's Dec 9 statement.

Recent media polls indicate that TDP stands to get a mere 20% in coastal Andhra if elections are held now. TRS is poised to sweep Telangana area. A third consecutive defeat could wipe out his staying power any more. Two TDP MLAs have also joined Jagan camp till now.

One question begs answer. If the TDP, on its launch by NTR, had also flopped like the PRP, in which party will Naidu be now? Remember Naidu was a junior minister in Congress government and did not join TDP on its inception but after NTR was swept into power, he joined TDP 6 months later.

ponder...

Temples in Distress

East Godavari distict of AP is the eye of the storm. Farmers have declared 'Crop Holiday' as stocks from previous harvest are rotting with them unsold and input costs have spiraled uncontrollably. The alternative for them is going in for next crop with loaned capital which may result in more suicides unable to clear debts.

This phenomenon if it spreads contagiously will seriously jeopardize our food security, result in high rural unemployment and affect the industry due to non-lifting of fertilizer/insecticide stock. One good thing could be Holiday to Degradation of Land.

Another spin-off is its effect on temples. All temples are not Tirupati nor Ananta Padmanabha! Most temples depend on the meagre returns from the endowment lands leased out to tenant farmers and voluntary offerings. If farmers are already distressed how can they make offerings. And if 'Crop Holiday' is practiced how will they make the annual agreed payments?

Gods, Priests and the Staff will have to sweat it out along with the farmer. This could also affect the Tourism, Transport and Hospitality sectors.

…ponder