Lectures for the new CMs

You don’t say!
Darius Nakhoonwala

Have you ever wondered why readers no longer take editorials seriously? Probably not, because although it might have been your secret dream to be a leader writer, you never read them if you don’t have to. 

The dismaying truth – and I have said this several times now – is that editorials are written without much homework and on the basis of received impressions. Result: the reader gains nothing at all from them. 

For example, every single edit on the creation of Telangana in the major newspapers said exactly the same thing. Good that it has come into existence but Naidu and Rao, the two new chief ministers, should be good boys from now on. Really? Wow! 

The Indian Express said, “Many uncertainties still inform the division of assets and personnel, and it will test the statesmanship and leadership of Rao and Naidu to avoid bad blood, confrontation and, crucially, to address the obvious anxieties of the people… A dangerous row was ignited by Rao this month when he implied state employees hailing from the Andhra region would not be permitted to work in Telangana... he raised valid apprehensions about his capacity to graduate from agitationist to leader. Naidu too has a challenge to put a lid on ethnic tensions…he must hit the ground running, turning it into an opportunity to upgrade the state’s many urban centres.” 

The Hindu said the same thing. “The birth of Telangana must serve as an opportunity … Allocation of employees, management of water resources and sharing of power are contentious subjects, but these can be settled through the available mechanisms… if they keep the long-term interests of their people in mind, and not their own short-term political calculations, many of the seemingly insurmountable difficulties could disappear. The two sides might have taken hardline positions during their campaign and immediately after the election, but once in power they will hopefully find some meeting ground. Both Mr. Rao and Mr. Naidu will serve their States well if they adopt… a consultative process in dispute resolution. The time for political rhetoric is now past.” 

The Times of India said the same thing. “It's now time for Rao to make the transition from a man who has been spearheading agitations into a chief minister who administers a state characterized by diversity. His rabble-rousing ways during his former avatar have evoked apprehension among some people and he needs to make everyone feel welcome. In the days to come, both Naidu and Rao will have to display sagacity to deal with challenges… It is incumbent upon Rao, in particular, to move to a different level. His call for a bandh last week in response to a previously agreed upon ordinance on transfer of some villages to Seemandhra didn't help matters…  Naidu... is likely to receive support of his coalition partner in the Union government, BJP, whose manifesto talked of developing 100 smart cities. Seemandhra's new capital should be the place to walk the talk.”

The Telegraph went lyrical in its opening sentence but also said the same thing. “The cause of Telangana was carried not on the wings of cold administrative logic, but volatile passions that have held the nation in thrall since 2009… It goes without saying that this is the time for administrative precision, not the replay of passion…Unfortunately, none of the two leaders seems keen to foster the right kind of atmosphere. While K. Chandrasekhar Rao, the chief minister of Telangana, has threatened to stop “Andhra employees” from working in his state and created a ruckus over the proposed transfer of parts of Khammam district to Seemandhra for the Polavaram project, the Telugu Desam Party in the other Andhra has warned that it will make Hyderabad’s ascension into the Telangana capital difficult. Nothing can be gained from stoking parochial sentiments.” 

The Hindustan Times, however, focused on the election results! “…of the total 42 seats in undivided Andhra Pradesh, the Congress managed to get only two...While the TDP, under the leadership of N Chandrababu Naidu, has won 102 of the 175 assembly seats in Seemandhra, K Chandrashekar Rao’s TRS has won 63 of the 119 assembly seats in Telangana. The majority gives both the leaders a free hand to lead stable governments.” 

What crap is this, man? 

Nobody read up enough to make the point that the economics of Telangana does not work. Amazingly even the business papers didn't. The Business Standard and the Economic Times wrote some off the cuff stuff and the Financial Express and Business Line didn't write at all.

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