Even as Muzaffarnagar riots have emerged as the main issue for the upcoming lok Sabha elections in western Uttar Pradesh, part of which goes to polls on April 10, demand for creation of separate State comprising 26 districts is gaining momentum and almost all the parties in rallies are talking about creation of a separate State in the lines of newly carved out Telangana State.
Rashtriya lok Dal (RlD) is in forefront to demand for a separate Harit Pradesh, all other political outfits including the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party are directly or indirectly supporting the demand while the only exception is Samajwadi Party (SP) — which says smaller States destroy the ethnic culture of the region.
RlD chief Ajit Singh had once again raked up the issue before the elections and now former SP leader Amar Singh, who has joined his party has also demanded creation of Harit Pradesh saying small States can take the country to progress.
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) had openly supported the issue and had even passed a resolution from the UP Assembly twice for dividing the State in four parts — Pachimanchal, Bundelkhand, Poorvanchal and Madhyanchal.
Ajit Singh has linked the Muzaffarnagar riots with the issue of division of the State. Addressing a rally in Baghpat he said, “If the State was separated, then the authorities would not have waited for directives from lucknow to act against the guilty. lucknow is far away from Muzaffarnagar. It is really impossible to watch the situation from there.”
BSP leaders too, claim that western UP should be a separate State for controlling administration and crime. “BSP always support small States and had recommended division of UP in four parts for better and efficient administration,” BSP national president Mayawati said while addressing a rally in Aligarh. “Ours is the only Government that started process of division of State. But the Congress did not take any initiative. If BSP comes to power, it will not only go for creation of Harit Pradesh but also advocate setting up of separate bench of High Court in western Uttar Pradesh,” she declared.
The demand for setting up of separate bench of High Court is also gaining political overtone. The Samajwadi Party says it will go for creation of separate bench, but is silent on creation of smaller States. SP has always opposed the issue of smaller States and did not support the creation of Telangana State as well.