Kasu Brahmananda Reddy: Lost his Chief Minister position due to the 1969 Telangana movement. Despite suppressing the movement in 1970, Indira Gandhi appointed a leader from the Telangana region to curb the demand for a separate state. This led to Reddy’s resignation in September 1971.
- P.V. Narasimha Rao: From Karimnagar, Telangana, he became Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on September 30, 1971. After becoming Chief Minister, Rao took steps to identify and repatriate non-locals.
- High Court Ruling (February 14, 1972): A five-member bench declared Mulki rules unconstitutional. Following this, Indira Gandhi assured Telangana people of justice at a public meeting on February 17, 1972.
- Legal Challenge: With Indira Gandhi’s support, P.V. Narasimha Rao challenged the High Court verdict in the Supreme Court. Rao’s brother-in-law, K. Narsingh Rao, argued the case.
- Land Reforms: During this period, P.V. Narasimha Rao implemented land acquisition laws aligned with central government policies, halting all land transactions on May 2, 1972, and passing the “Land Ceiling Bill” on September 15, 1972. This antagonized Andhra investors and feudal communities.
- Supreme Court Ruling (October 3, 1972): The Court upheld the constitutionality of Mulki regulations, a decision supported by P.V. Narasimha Rao. This spurred the “Jai Andhra movement” demanding separation from Telangana.
- False Propaganda: Some political opportunists spread rumors that Andhra farmers’ land in Telangana would be seized due to Mulki rules, inciting concerns among Andhra employees.
- Protests: Andhra Pradesh people protested en masse against Mulki regulations, with students and employees holding meetings and strikes. The landlords and political opponents of P.V. Narasimha Rao joined the protests.
Formation of Praja Parishad (October 18, 1972)
- Leadership: Sardar Gouthu Latchanna as President, Nadimpalli Narsimha Rao as Vice-President, Tummala Choudary as Secretary, and Jagarlapudi Chandramouli as Treasurer.
- Resolution: They resolved to separate the Andhra region, claiming Andhra Pradesh’s existence was unsustainable under current conditions.
Political Developments
- Debate in Lok Sabha (November 21, 1972): CPI leader Indrajit Gupta raised the issue of Andhra Pradesh’s situation, while MP Pendakanti Venkata Subbaya demanded the abolition of special protections for Telangana.
- Bandhs and Strikes: A bandh in the Andhra region on December 5, 1972, was followed by an indefinite strike by non-gazetted employees on December 7, lasting 108 days until March 25, 1973.
- Opposition Meeting (December 10, 1972): Janasangh, Independent party, and some Congress legislators held a large meeting in Vijayawada demanding a separate Andhra State, where Gouthu Latchanna unveiled the flag for Andhra State.
Resignations and Formation of Andhra Sena
- Ministerial Resignations: Nine Andhra region ministers resigned to support the “Jai Andhra” movement, starting with Batthini Subba Rao on December 13, 1972. On December 17, these ministers and others formed “Andhra Sena,” led by Madala Janaki Ram.
- Public Meetings: On December 22, 1972, Kakani Venkataratnam and N.G. Ranga called for a separate Andhra State at a massive public meeting in Guntur. Parliament approved the Five-Point Formula on December 23, 1972. Indira Gandhi announced in Lok Sabha that there would be no extension of Mulki regulations, no division of the state, and regional development boards would be considered.
Government Response and President’s Rule
- Prime Minister’s Statement: On December 23, 1972, Parliament approved the Five-Point Formula, and Indira Gandhi announced that there would be no extension of Mulki regulations or division of the state.
- Clashes and Firings: On December 24, clashes in Vijayawada led to CRPF forces opening fire, resulting in eight deaths. Kakani Venkataratnam died of a heart attack the following day.
- Continuation of Movement: Despite President’s rule being imposed on January 18, 1973, under Governor Khandubhai Kasonji Desai, the “Jai Andhra” movement continued.
Continuation of Jai Andhra Movement
- Praja Parishad: Formed on October 18, 1972, with Sardar Gouthu Latchanna as President, Nadimpalli Narsimha Rao as Vice-President, Tummala Choudary as Secretary, and Jagarlapudi Chandramouli as Treasurer. They demanded the separation of Andhra, arguing that Andhra Pradesh’s existence was unsustainable under current conditions.
- Public Protests: On December 24, 1972, supporters of a united state held a procession in Vijayawada, backed by the CPI and P.V. Narasimha Rao. Separate state activists, led by Kakani Venkataratnam, obstructed the procession, resulting in clashes and CRPF forces opening fire, killing eight people. Venkataratnam died the next day from a heart attack caused by the violence.
- Leadership Changes: After Venkataratnam’s death, the Jai Andhra movement was led by B.V. Subba Reddy and Vasantha Nageshwar Rao. Other notable leaders included Sardar Gouthu Latchanna and N.G. Ranga.
- Separate Telangana Congress Forum: Marri Chenna Reddy established this forum during the peak of the Jai Andhra movement. On December 27, 1972, the Joint Action Committee of Andhra-Venkateshwara University students met in Nellore, where President B.J. Augustine called for an armed struggle for a separate state. Young leaders such as Venkaiah Naidu, Y.S.R., and Chandra Babu Naidu participated.
- Tirupati Sabha (December 31, 1972): Andhra region Congress leaders, chaired by B.V. Subba Reddy, resolved to carry out a non-cooperative movement and withhold taxes. On January 2, 1973, police opened fire on marchers supporting the Jai Andhra movement, killing three young men. Fifteen MPs from Coastal and Rayalaseema regions issued an ultimatum for a separate Andhra state by January 26, 1973.
- President’s Rule (January 18, 1973): In the wake of the Jai Andhra movement, P.V. Narasimha Rao resigned as Chief Minister under Indira Gandhi’s instructions, leading to President’s rule in Andhra Pradesh.
Formation of Jai Andhra Front and Further Movements
- Jai Andhra Front (April 1973): Differences among leaders led to the formation of the Jai Andhra Front, led by Gouthu Latchanna, Annabattula Nageshwar Rao, and Thenneti Vishwanatham. Film stars such as Krishna, Vijay Nirmala, NTR, ANR, and Krishnam Raju supported the movement. On February 17, 1973, Akkineni Nageshwar Rao and N.T. Rama Rao appealed for the division of Andhra and Telangana. Vijaya Nirmala and Krishna staged a hunger strike in Madras.
- Jana Sangh Party Involvement: Initially advocating for a united state during the 1969 movement, the Jana Sangh Party supported separate Andhra and Telangana states during 1972-73. Party president Atal Bihari Vajpayee led the Andhra Sangharshana Samithi in Andhra and the Telangana Sangharshana Samithi in Telangana.
- Vijayawada Sabha (February 1, 1973): Organized by the Advocates Association and chaired by Hari Ananth Padmanabha Sastri, this meeting featured Vajpayee, who criticized the CPI and called for a division of Andhra and Telangana. Vajpayee declared that language alone cannot solve problems and bring people together.
- Andhra Sangharshana Samithi Conference (February 2, 1973): In Guntur, Vajpayee cautioned against restraining the movement with police force. At the Telangana Sangharshana Samithi conference in Hyderabad, he stated that if Andhra and Telangana wish to separate amicably, no power can prevent it.
- Paga Pulla Reddy’s Shift: The Gadwal legislative member, who had supported a united state during the 1969 movement, advocated for a separate Telangana in February 1973. Separate state movements in Andhra and Telangana were reignited after the Supreme Court upheld Mulki rules on October 3, 1973.
Q. Describe the Jai Andhra Movement and its impact on the Mulki rules.
| Introduction | The Jai Andhra Movement emerged as a direct response to the Supreme Court’s decision on October 3, 1972, to enforce Mulki rules for all vacancies in Telangana across all cadres, aiming to protect local employment rights for Telangana residents. |
| Body | Demand of the Jai Andhra Movement:
· The movement primarily advocated for the removal of protective measures for Telangana residents, arguing that they should remain part of Andhra Pradesh without any special protections or, alternatively, the state should be bifurcated into two separate states. Consequences: · Following the Supreme Court verdict, the Central government, recognizing the heightened tensions and the demands of the Jai Andhra Movement, felt compelled to amend the Mulki rules. This led to the announcement of a Five Point Formula on November 27, 1972, aiming to modify the rules. · The leaders from the Andhra region were dissatisfied with both the formula and the Prime Minister’s decisions, prompting the intensification of the movement. · The escalating unrest led to the imposition of President’s Rule in Andhra Pradesh, and the resignation of P.V. Narasimha Rao as the Chief Minister. · On September 21, 1973, in an attempt to resolve the ongoing conflicts, the Six Point Formula was introduced. This new framework significantly altered the regional dynamics; it led to the abolition of the Mulki rules and the dissolution of the Telangana Regional Committee. · Additionally, the practice of maintaining separate financial records for Telangana and Andhra was discontinued. |
| Conclusion | The Jai Andhra Movement, driven by perceived injustices and development disparities favouring the Hyderabad region, resulted in the abolishment of protections for Telangana under the Mulki rules. This movement highlighted the complex inter-regional dynamics and the challenges of administering a state with diverse regional identities. The consequences were significant, setting the stage for further political and social changes within Andhra Pradesh. |