Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Seek votes on the basis of development – not castes and religions' that was published in Newsband

Seek votes on the basis of development – not castes and religions

Rahul Gandhi, who expressed support for Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s day-long fast in New Delhi demanding that the Centre fulfil all promises made during the State's bifurcation in 2014, said the Prime Minister was denying the State the Special Category Status. The government and Ambani have rejected Gandhi’s allegations of corruption in the Rafale fighter jet deal with France.

The problem in Indian politics is that there is no need for any proof to speak and there is lack of accountability. Now every state cannot be given SCS. Where are the funds? Demanding special status is an ugly mode of mediation since all states have their own reasons to raise. Take the example of God's own country, the flood of the century did havoc to its economy. Take Tamil Nadu, the recent cyclone did a lot of harm to the tinsel state. Take the instance of Karnataka, the state too has enough reasons for demanding special status. If all children raise and demand special status, what will the guardian do?

The state of AP was divided against the will of its legislative assembly and the then Prime Minister, in agreement with the opposition leaders, assured that AP would be given special status because of the injustice meted out to AP (anomalous provisions in the AP reorganization act) and the very dismal state of its economy post bifurcation (lowest per capita GDP among southern states, loss of capital city Hyderabad, revenue deficit etc.). You have to understand that both the PM and the opposition leaders saw it fit to accord special status to AP. But the assurances given by the PM on the floor of the house could not be fulfilled. The truth is that the center had asked AP’s CM to give utilisation details for the amount already sanctioned. And as this report was not forthcoming the subsequent sanction has been withheld. The ball is in CBN's court now. And the state government of AP has alleged that the center had not given anything. None of us knows who is right. Also the Center now says that the 14th Finance Commission has recommended to do away with special categorization of states.

It is an irony that Indian Democracy is progressing towards a hateful politics, where the leaders seek vote on the basis of castes and religions - not on development.