Telangana will write history of woman Governor’s discrimination: Tamilisai Soundararajan on KCR

Lacing her words in sarcasm, Soundararajan asked why the state government was so concerned that she should not contract Covid-19.

“They would not give me the Governor’s address and would not allow me to speak on Republic Day, which is my Constitutional right. Since when did the Raj Bhavan become an untouchable place?” she asked as a riptide of emotions burst forth.

Allegations of discrimination, shunning

The Governor, who initially was not reluctant to make any incisive comments about the state government, began washing dirty linen, accusing the government of showing disrespect to not only the gubernatorial office but also to her as well, as she was a woman.

Firing a volley of questions, Soundararajan said that she was put down, derided, and humiliated on umpteen occasions when she tried to communicate with the office of the chief minister on any matter concerning issues related to the people.

When she organised At Home, the customary Independence Day evening function at the Raj Bhavan, the chief minister’s office said he was on his way but he did not come. “If he was not going to turn up, they should have informed me, but there was no communication thereafter,” the Governor said.

Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan interacts with reporters at the Raj Bhavan in Hyderabad on Thursday, 8 September, 2022. (Supplied)

When a reporter pointed out that the Raj Bhavan does not have the picture of the chief minister, she said in a derisive voice that if he was not visiting the Raj Bhavan because of this reason, she would have his picture displayed immediately. “He would not attend At Home, but wants his picture in the Raj Bhavan,” she said, asserting that she was indifferent to praise and contumely alike.

The Governor, answering questions on various issues, took serious exception to the depths to which the quality of medical services had plummeted. “If the director of a public medical institution has to be admitted to a private hospital for treatment, what would people think of healthcare in government hospitals?” she asked, using the analogy of someone who keeps bragging about the quality of snacks at his restaurant but eats at another.

In another context, she wanted to know why the chief minister shied away from attending the recently-held Southern Zonal Council meeting.

‘No response to issues raised’

Soundararajan also said every initiative she had taken for helping the poor and the needy was met with disdain, scorn, and suspicion by the government.

“I have written to the government several times, raising the issues that were brought to my notice during my visits to various districts in the state. There was no response to any of them. The Mahila Durbars that I have been organising in a small way within my limitations have been criticised, and whatever suggestions I gave were not acted upon,” the Governor said.

Referring to the innumerable breaches of protocol, she said she was at a loss to understand why the state government was acting this way.

When a reporter pointed out that when ESL Narasimhan was the first governor of Telangana, he had cordial relations with the chief minister, Soundararajan dismissed it with a smile. “Maybe I lack the art,” she said.

Recalling how the state government denied her a helicopter when she wanted to visit Medaram, she said she had to go there by road, which took eight hours. “We reached at about the time when the Sammakka Saralamma deities were about to be removed as the jathara was coming to an end. We had sought a helicopter the previous day. There was no reply. We decided to go by road and set out early in the morning because it is a long way inside deep jungles,” she said.

No help on trips, says Governor

She also recalled how she had to visit flood-affected areas by train, but she said she did not mind.

What bothered her was why the government was showing so much disrespect to the office of the Governor.

“I went to the flood-affected areas in Bhadrachalam, interacted with the victims, and motivated the government staff. Though no collector came to receive me, I was not bothered about it,” she said with vinegar in her voice.

Soundararajan was emphatic that she had no intention of dabbling in politics or asserting herself.

“I only wanted to serve the people, and no one can stop me from doing that. I went to IIIT Basara. The conditions there were appalling. The food was horrible. The only promise that I could make to the students was that the quality of vada would be better from the next day, as it is the government which has to attend to their needs and not me as I have my limitations,” she said.