New Delhi: With demands for creation of
smaller states gaining momentum after the Centre`s move to
initiate the process for separate Telangana, the Congress
on Friday said the carving out of new states from the existing
ones should be need based and only for better administration.
"We are not opposed to smaller states. However, new
states should be need based, created for better and focused
administration and not to adjust some political parties who
have failed to gain a foothold in the bigger states," party
spokesman Shakeel Ahmed said.
Ahmed said there should be justification if a state
was to be formed. "States should be created for welfare of the
people if some part of the state is neglected due to some
reason or the other," he said.
Ahmed`s remarks hold significance after UP Chief
Minister Mayawati favoured creation of Bundelkhand and western
Uttar Pradesh out of Uttar Pradesh and wrote to Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh favouring small states on the lines of
Telangana.
Referring to the creation of Jharkhand and
Chhattisgarh in 2000, Ahmed hinted that the experience has not
been good as the Maoists have spread themselves in these
states.
The spokesman parried a question whether the Centre
would consider the proposal of Mayawati on Bundelkhand and
Western UP.
PTI
