The agitation against Hyderabad being declared a "Free Zone" was a significant part of the broader Telangana movement during the late 2000s. The issue created widespread unrest in the Telangana region, as people saw it as a threat to local employment opportunities and a violation of the agreements made to protect Telangana's interests. Here's an overview of the background, events, and consequences of the agitation:

1. Background

  • What is a "Free Zone"? A free zone designation refers to an area where government employment opportunities are open to candidates from all regions of the state, not restricted by local domicile or regional preference. In the context of Hyderabad, this meant that government jobs, particularly police and administrative positions, would be open to candidates from other parts of Andhra Pradesh, such as the coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.

  • Concerns of Telangana People:

    • People in the Telangana region feared that this designation would reduce employment opportunities for locals, who already felt marginalized due to the historical neglect of the region in terms of development and resource allocation.
    • The move was seen as a violation of Mulki Rules and Gentlemen's Agreement, which had provided job reservations and protection for Telangana locals after the formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1956.

2. Legal and Political Developments

  • Initial Controversy: The controversy began when the Supreme Court of India upheld the decision to declare Hyderabad as a free zone in 2009. This meant that jobs, particularly in police recruitment, were no longer reserved for residents of Telangana, but were open to candidates from other regions of Andhra Pradesh as well.

  • Supreme Court Ruling: The Supreme Court’s ruling triggered massive unrest in Telangana. The court’s decision was based on a long-standing legal interpretation of Hyderabad’s status, but it reignited deep-rooted concerns about the socio-economic marginalization of the Telangana region within the unified Andhra Pradesh.

3. Agitation and Protests

  • Massive Protests:

    • The decision led to widespread protests in Telangana, particularly in Hyderabad, where government employees, students, and political activists organized strikes and demonstrations.
    • The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), led by K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), played a prominent role in mobilizing people against the free zone status. The TRS had been at the forefront of the Telangana statehood movement and saw this as another instance of discrimination against the region.
    • Student organizations, including those from Osmania University and Kakatiya University, were actively involved in the protests, further intensifying the call for the protection of local rights.

  • Telangana Employees Joint Action Committee (TEJAC):

    • Government employees from Telangana, particularly police personnel, were at the forefront of the agitation. They argued that the free zone status would deprive Telangana locals of employment opportunities in government services.
    • TEJAC was formed to organize and lead these protests, and it became one of the most influential voices in the movement against the free zone status.

4. Government Response

  • Political Pressure: The growing agitation and the involvement of key political players like the TRS, as well as the increasing unrest among government employees and students, put significant pressure on both the Andhra Pradesh state government and the Central government to reconsider the Supreme Court’s ruling.

  • Revisiting the Issue: To calm the protests, the state government and political parties, including the ruling Congress party, promised to look into the matter and address the grievances of Telangana people. The Union Home Ministry eventually took steps to ensure that recruitment for police and other government services in Hyderabad would be done in a way that protected the interests of locals from Telangana.

5. Consequences

  • Suspension of Free Zone Status: Following intense pressure from the protests, the state government successfully managed to suspend the implementation of the Supreme Court’s ruling. Hyderabad was subsequently reclassified as part of Zone VI, a local zone, where a portion of government jobs would be reserved for Telangana locals.

  • Boost to the Telangana Movement: The agitation against the free zone status significantly boosted the larger Telangana statehood movement, as it reignited the feeling of injustice and alienation among the people of Telangana. The issue became another symbol of the perceived exploitation and domination of the Telangana region by leaders from the coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.

  • Resurgence of Telangana Sentiment: The protests added fuel to the already growing sentiment for the creation of a separate Telangana state. Political parties like the TRS, student groups, and civil society organizations used the free zone issue as evidence of the systemic discrimination faced by Telangana and rallied even more support for the statehood movement.

Conclusion

The agitation against Hyderabad being declared a free zone was a turning point in the Telangana movement. It underscored the deep-seated concerns of the people of Telangana regarding employment, regional identity, and their place within the unified Andhra Pradesh state. The widespread protests that followed led to a reclassification of Hyderabad’s status and played a critical role in furthering the demand for a separate Telangana state, which eventually became a reality in 2014.