States are not created on geographical requirements but political needs, expelled Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh today said and accused the UPA government of delaying a decision on such demands.
"States are not created on geographical requirements but political needs... when the Government of India has accepted the demand for the creation of Telangana, why this delay? It is the policy of management by delay," he told reporters here.
Singh, who heads the National Federation for New States, was speaking at a press conference on the issue of separate states and claimed "absolute statehood" and not autonomous councils will serve the purpose.
"People are not interested in reaching half agreements with the government and creation of committees will not help in finding a solution as they are formed and forgotten," he said.
Singh claimed that his organisation will work towards creation of Telangana, Gorkhaland, Vidarbha, Harit Pradesh (West UP), Poorvanchal (East UP) and Bundelkhand (parts of north UP and MP).
"The demand is not aimed at winning polls... people provide lip service to such demands and win elections. Even Jaswant Singh (BJP) won Lok Sabha elections by supporting demand for Gorkhaland," he said.
Attacking Mulayam Singh Yadav, Singh said if the Samajwadi Party fails to recognise the "genuine demand" for creation of Poorvanchal, then the party will suffer setbacks in polls.
The SP is opposed to creation of smaller states by carving out parts of Uttar Pradesh.
"If small states are created, the focus will be on development. Then Rahul Gandhi won't have to rest at the home of some Kalawati," he said adding that the Congress leader's move helped bring forth the plight of the people of Vidarbha.
Asked about his stand on land acquisition for industrial projects, he said "be it Singur or Yamuna Expressway, land should not be acquired without the consent of farmers."
Attacking Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati, he said, "Shocked by the farmers agitation in West UP, even BSP MPs have decided to join the agitation. They fear a loss of face."
He claimed that while the Yamuna Expressway project was
approved by the Mayawati government during its previous stint,
Mulayam Singh Yadav endorsed her views just months before the
last Assembly elections in the state.
"I want to know the tonic the JP Group gave to Mayawati and Mulayam Singh," he said sarcastically.
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