Mayawati hits back at oppn for slamming her move to split UP

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Wednesday hit back at her opponents for dismissing the decision to split the state as a political stunt with an eye on Assembly polls and said the move was to "exert pressure" on the Centre.

"The decision to bring the proposal for division of state in the state legislative during winter session starting on November 21 has been taken under compulsion to create pressure on the Centre," Mayawati said in a statement.

Her clarification came in the wake of sharp reactions from Congress, BJP and Samjawadi Party, which dubbed the decision as an election stunt to befool the people.

The chief minister said that since 2007 when Bahujan Samaj Party came into power, she had been repeatedly requesting the prime minister in writing for reorganisation of the state.

"But even after four and a half years, the Centre has done nothing in this regard," she alleged and accused both BJP and SP of always being opposed to creation of smaller states.

Mayawati said there was no constitutional binding on her government to get a proposal passed for creation of four new states either by the state cabinet or the Assembly, because as per the Constitution the Centre has all the power to bring such a bill.

"If the Congress-led UPA government had been in favour of the development of the state, it should have got a draft of a bill approved by the Union cabinet and then passed in Parliament," she said.

Deploring the opposition parties for their "incorrect and anti-development stand", Mayawati said the decision should not be linked to the forthcoming Assembly elections.

"Proposal of the state legislature will help create pressure on the Centre and allegations of all opposition leaders on the issue are baseless," she said.

On Congress leader Digvijay Singh's suggestion for a second State Reorganisation Commission, Mayawati said the party was making excuses on the issue and added that there was no role of such a commission in creation of Uttarakhand.

"By making such a statement, Singh has exposed Congress' mentality against reorganisation of UP. Congress wants to keep the matter hanging as in the case of Telangana state," she alleged.

Mayawati had yesterday announced bringing a resolution in the House for carving out four new states in the winter session beginning November 21.

She said the cabinet has approved a resolution for creation of Purvanchal, Bundelkhand, Awadh Pradesh and Paschim Pradesh.