Former Lok Sabha speaker in favour of smaller states

Extending support to statehood movements for "all round development", former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma today said he was in favour of carving out smaller states.

"I am strongly in favour of more small states in the country. I am supporting the demands of a separate Telengana, Bundelkhund, Gorkhaland and likewise," the NCP general secretary told news persons here.

"I will even support trifurcation of Uttar Pradesh and bifurcation of Madhya Pradesh", he said adding "In fact, I am in favour of division of big states into smaller ones for rapid development and to check regional disparity".

Sangma, who was in the steel city to campaign for NCP candidates in Kolhan region of Jharkhand in the ensuing assembly election, favoured a "true" federal system over the prevailing quasi-federal set up in the country for all round development.

The NCP leader advocated setting up another state re-organisation committee to look into the small state demand. Commenting on the spurt in Naxalism and insurgency in the country, Sangma said the educated youth were being lured to take up arms because they were not getting jobs.

Referring to Shiv Sena supreme Bal Thakeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thakeray's alleged anti north Indian stance, Sangma said this was probably due to the migration of people from northern India to the more developed western and southern states in search of livelihood.

Sangma suggested that states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar should make attempt to prevent people from migrating by providing employment within the state itself.