Advani Demands Setting Up Of State Reorganisation Commission

The BJP president, L K Advani, yesterday demanded setting up of the state reorganisation commission to create more states for balanced economic growth and administrative convenience.

Addressing newsmen at Raipur Press Club, Advani said the central government should fulfil the demand for Uttaranchal (UP), Vananchal (Bihar), Vidarbha (Maharashtra) and Chhatisgarh (Madhya Pradesh) states.

Recalling that the Deve Gowda government had announced statehood for Uttaranchal just before the assembly elections in UP in October last year, Advani said no step had been taken after the election. He said the experience during the last four decades had shown that the shape of the Union and its states, which came into being, was far from satisfactory. Many of the states were too unwieldy from the administration point of view causing uneven economic development.

He also alleged that the government had succumbed to the pressure of western countries on many issues including the surface-to-air missile Prithvi.

He said Prime Minister I K Gujrals doctrine on Indias relations with neighbouring countries was not in the interest of the country.

Replying to a question, he said Pakistan was always anti-Indian in its policy and actions and Gujral should refrain from going out of his way in dealing with Islamabad.

Advani said the government did not realise how and when Bangladesh refugees would be deported from India nor did it consider the adverse consequences for India arising out of the Ganges water-sharing treaty with Dhaka. The agreement on transfer of Teen-Bigha corridor on lease went in favour of Bangladesh, he added.