Proponents of seperation argue that Fazal Ali Commission report clearly pointed to the disparity between the Andhra and Hyderabad states in respect of their respective revenue status. The newly formed Andhra state had low per capita income and the revenue position was also not good whereas Hyderabad state had comfortable revenue position.
But they are silent about this comfortable position of Hyderabad being attributed by the Commission to the sound revenue system and due to sale of liquor.
It is also oft repeated that in comparison to the Andhra state the Government employees of Hyderabad had much better salaries.
It must be borne in mind that since Congress had already wielded power in the Composite Madras Presidency during British rule it introduced prohibition and practically there was no revenue from Abkari. Regarding sound revenue system, one has only to recall the repressive Nizam regime comprising of cruel local lords extracting revenue though inhuman methods from a hapless peasantry. The Commission itself reports that except for the Hyderabad urban area, rest of the Hyderabad was in pitiable state. Despite their other shortcomings the areas directly ruled by British had comparatively a very liberal dispensation.
If we surmise that in the State of Hyderabad during Nizam’s rule and later after the Police action, there existed a system which thrived on repressive revenue collection and liquor consumption by a poverty ridden population and that the Public servants fattened themselves from this ‘comfortable revenue’ position, are we wrong? Was this not the reason for the struggle especially by Communists and peasants against the rulers?
Is this an incentive and inducement shown to the Government employees to support the separate movement?
…ponder
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