Govt Convenes All-Party Meet on June 4 to Identify Telangana Protagonists

High-level committee will identify Telangana movement activists under four categories.

Those who lost their lives during the Telangana movement.

Those who sustained injuries while participating in the agitation.

Individuals who were imprisoned, arrested or faced legal cases in connection with the movement.

Activists from various states who participated in the Telangana movement at the grassroots level. They will be identified using newspaper clippings and other documentary evidence.

Panel to invite proposals from individuals and members of civil society who played significant roles.

The committee to hold consultations with activists associated with the Telangana movements of 1969, 1972 and 1996.

Panel with framing stringent criteria to ensure the identification of genuine activists and compiling a comprehensive database for extending welfare measures and state honours.

Hyderabad: The state government has convened an all-party meeting at the Secretariat on June 4 to seek suggestions and views on identifying and honouring Telangana movement activists for their contributions and sacrifices during the statehood struggle.
Recognised political parties, including the Congress, BJP, BRS, AIMIM, TD, YSRC, CPM, BSP, AAP and the National People’s Party of the northeast, have been requested to nominate two representatives each to participate in the meeting and submit their recommendations to the high-level committee constituted by the government for the purpose.
The move follows the government's decision on May 15 to constitute a high-level committee headed by government adviser K. Keshava Rao to identify “Telangana Udyamakarulu” (Telangana statehood movement activists). The committee comprises minister Ponnam Prabhakar, MLCs Prof. Kodandaram and Addanki Dayakar, former MLC Ramulu Naik and Mothe Shobhan Reddy as members.
According to a circular issued by principal secretary (political), general administration department, M. Raghunandan Rao on Tuesday, the all-party meeting has been convened to obtain the views and suggestions of recognised political parties to assist the committee in carrying out its mandate effectively.
As part of the process to identify activists, the committee has decided to hold consultations with activists associated with the Telangana movements of 1969, 1972 and 1996 and gather their suggestions. It has also been entrusted with framing stringent criteria to ensure the identification of genuine activists and compiling a comprehensive database for extending welfare measures and state honours.
The committee stated that it was constituted with the objective of preserving and protecting the legacy of the Telangana movement and emphasised that the selection process would be carried out in a manner that transcends political affiliations. Observing that the previous BRS government had extended benefits to only a limited section of activists, the committee resolved to ensure that the present exercise is conducted in a fair, transparent and non-partisan manner, independent of political considerations.
The committee has also decided to establish its office at the premises of the Amaraveerula Jyothi (Martyrs’ Memorial Flame) in Hyderabad. It will seek proposals from a wide range of organisations and stakeholders, including the Telangana Movement Activists’ Joint Action Committee (JAC), activists of the 1969 movement, employee unions, the Artists’ JAC, the Sabbanda Vargala JAC, caste associations, the Lawyers’ JAC and various movement organisations formed across different districts.
In addition, the committee will undertake district tours across Telangana to conduct extensive consultations with stakeholders and collect public opinions before finalising the list of activists eligible for recognition, welfare support and state honours.