Telangana aftermath: Maya ready to split Uttar Pradesh

Two days after the Centre capitulated to spirited protests from Telangana supporters, leading to a flurry of demands for separate states across the country, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati said she too supported the cause of separate states carved out of her state.

In a move believed to be aimed at neutralising political opponents, Mayawati said: “Let the Centre give us the go-ahead. We will get the state assembly to pass the necessary resolution.”

Expressing her support for Poorvanchal, which will comprise districts in eastern UP, she said: “Right now nobody has made a serious demand, but if the people there are serious, I am all for it.” She also urged the protagonists of Harit Pradesh and Bundelkhand to agitate peacefully. Mayawati’s support for Bundelkhand is aimed at stumping Rahul Gandhi who has also been demanding a separate entity for the area.

Caught off-guard, senior ministers at the Centre fear that the demand for smaller states could spiral out of hand. “This is a very sensitive issue and can lead to all kinds of problems unless handled properly,” said a senior minister. Though no formal decision has been taken, one of the options for the government is to set up yet another state reorganisation commission (SRC).

Meanwhile, the ghost of trifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on religious lines has returned to haunt the state government. The voices for separate statehood for Hindu-dominated Jammu and union territory status for Ladakh have become shriller. 

“The Telangana issue will inspire people to unite for the cause of Jammu,’’ said Virendra Gupta, president of Jammu State Morcha (JSM) which is spearheading campaign. The demand dated back to 1953 when a massive agitation was launched over the issue, he added. Historically, Gupta said, Jammu has been a distinct entity on the basis of language and geography. But it has always been made subservient to Kashmir.

The Buddhist-dominated Ladakh has also revived its old proposal for a union territory status. “We were a separate kingdom till 1836. When Maharaja (Hari Singh) acceded to India in 1947, we were made part of the state. Since then, we have been demanding UT status for Ladakh,” said Thupstun Chewang, president of Ladakh Union Territory Front. “It is ironical that while we are considered a region but our status is worse than that of a district,’’ said Chewang.

The J&K government, however, has rejected both the demands. “J&K is a united entity and an integral part of India. There is no question of a division of the state,” said Raman Bhalla, J&K minister for revenue, relief and rehabilitation.

Enthused by the Telangana development, the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) has revived its demand for a separate Bodoland, carved out of Assam. The BPF is currently an ally of the ruling Congress in Assam. “If Telengana can be carved out of Andhra Pradesh, why not a separate Bodoland in Assam? We are surely going to revive our demand for Bodoland and launch a sustained mass movement,” BPF leader Hagrama Mohilary said. The Karbis, and the Dimasa tribes in Assam, who have also been
seeking separate states, have revived their demands.

Jaswant Singh, former BJP leader and MP from Darjeeling, has upped the ante for Gorkhaland. “The demand for a separate Gorkhaland is over 100 years old, it should be granted,” said Singh in New Delhi. He was elected from Darjeeling in 2009 on a BJP ticket after the party supported the cause of Gorkhaland. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha will begin a fast-unto-death agitation for statehood on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, who had opposed the creation of Jharkhand from undivided Bihar, has also pitched in for new states of Purvanchal and Bundelkhand.