ASIAN AGE STORY ON DEMAND FOR NEW STATES | Nandhivarman

Published on 18-05-2008 In National

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ASIAN AGE STORY ON DEMAND FOR NEW STATES

ASIAN AGE
Govt flooded with new-state demands

By Namrata Biji Ahuja
New Delhi, May 5: The Union home ministry finds itself flooded with demands for the creation of at least 15 new states.After the clamour for carving out separate states — Telangana in Andhra Pradesh, Vidarbha in Maharashtra and Bundelkhand in Uttar Pradesh — the ministry of home affairs (MHA) has told Parliament that it has received recommendations from "various sources" for the creation of several new states, such as Bhojpur in East Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Bihar, Saurashtra in Gujarat, Coorg in Karnataka, Koshalanchal in western Orissa, Gorkhaland in West Bengal, Mithilanchal in north Bihar, parts of Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, and Purvanchal, Harith Pradesh, Braj Pradesh and Awadh Pradesh from various regions of Uttar Pradesh.

The MHA has denied receiving any recommendation from "state governments" for the creation of new states, which includes the demand for Telangana and the call for the trifurcation of UP, a move supported by UP chief minister Mayawati. The ministry has said that all the "demands and representations" for creation of new states have been coming from "various sources" from time to time.

The MHA, however, has not specified these "sources".
Experts said the ruling Congress’ move to form a second States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) is responsible for the fresh din created by various groups that want new states "carving out". They warned that such a move can harm Centre-state relations. Experts warned that a "crisis" can be created in the country if the UPA government supports the creation of Telangana in Andhra Pradesh. They said the demand for the creation of a separate Telangana was "not genuine". "It has become an issue of politics. If the government goes ahead with the creation of a new Telangana state, then every political party at the Centre will try to extract political mileage from such moves," said Prof. Nisar-ul-Haq, a political expert with Jamia Millia Islamia. "India is already huge with 29 states," he said.

Experts said the argument that development does not reach the remote and backward parts of huge states is wrong. "Today, development is reaching every state. Moreover, it is up to the state government to help development reach every corner of the state," said Prof. Haq.
"If such a trend starts, it will lead to cessation," warned Prof. Haq explaining that gradually states can raise demands for "autonomy" and "independence" quoting "ideological differences" and the like. The first States Reorganisation Commission, set up by the Jawaharlal Nehru Cabinet in 1954 under Justice Faizal Ali, recommended the creation of new states on "linguistic grounds''. In 2000, the BJP-led NDA government approved the creation of Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.

The home ministry, meanwhile, has told Parliament that the government will take a decision on the matter of formation of new states after "taking into consideration all relevant factors". "Action by the government would depend on the felt need and general consensus," said the home ministry.

[India has single currency but not a common market.India has unitary structure while aspiring to be a federation.There are regional imbalances, that is why demands for new states emanate.Smaller states for better governance, seems to be the theme catching up in West.Scholars even predict revival of city states.In democracy these are the trends globally.Let those who have lttephobia, look at georgia, and former states of Russia emerging as independent nations.]