INDIA
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sought a detailed proposal from the Uttar Pradesh government on dividing the state into four.
In a move to checkmate chief minister and BSP supremo Mayawati’s pre-election move, the ministry of home affairs (MHA) has sought a detailed proposal from the state government to divide the state into four.
This MHA response has come after the resolution of the UP assembly recommending four-way split was forwarded by the state government for necessary action at the Central level.
“We have asked for the clarification as UP government’s two-line missive sent to the MHA does not say anything beyond seeking bifurcation of Uttar Pradesh into four states and thus cannot be processed,” a senior home ministry official said.
The MHA note sent to the UP chief secretary asks for clarifications on issues like the boundaries of the proposed states, the cities that would become the capitals, the division of the officers of the All India Services, the revenue sharing arrangements between the new states and the state that would share the pension burden of the pensioners and the proportion of sharing.
The Congress has endorsed this move of the home ministry. “We have all along maintained that the creation of new states is a serious affair, and not just a pre-election gimmick,” said party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi.