In response to the demand from the Congress MPs of the Telangana region for a separate state, Seema Andhra MPs on Wednesday distributed pamphlets to bolster their claim that division of the state is not in the best interest of the country.
Tracing agitations of such nature, the pamphlet details how the demand for creation of new states has been the chronic feature of the Indian system. It says, those demands have always rested on the premise that they have been neglected or discriminated against by both the Union and state governments.
Listing out the number of agitations that are currently on in different parts of India, which range from Bodoland in Assam, Gorkhaland in West Bengal, Kodagu in Karnataka, Tulu Nadu in Karnataka, Purvanchal in central India, Vidarbha in Maharashtra, Bundelkhand, Gondwana to Saurashtra in Gujarat.
The pamphlet points to the 82 districts in the Northeast, which are inhabited by different ethnic groups and sub-groups. They are not only in conflict with one another but also suffer from a sense of alienation, exploitation and neglect. And most of them feel only a separate state will solve all their problems. If their demand were to be met India will end up having 20 more states in the Northeast alone, the pamphlet adds. It further adds that corruption and exploitation are ruling the roost in the five states that were carved out of what was once Greater Assam. Now, Nagas are demanding a separate country for themselves.
The pamphlet sums up by saying that law and order scenario in these states also is not up to the mark.