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Demand for Vindhya Pradesh resurfaces

With the passage of the Chhattisgarh statehood bill in Parliament, the demand for a separate Vindhya Pradesh to be created out of Madhya Pradesh has resurfaced.

In a statement, Congress MP Sunderlal Tiwari, who represents Rewa constituency in the Lok Sabha, said he had raised the issue in Parliament during the passage of the Chhattisgarh bill and urged the Centre to create a Vindhya state soon.

''When the Madhya Pradesh Assembly has already adopted a resolution to this effect, there is no reason to delay constitution of the Vindhya State'', he said claiming that the new state would be a ''viable'' entity.

Expressing surprise over the statement of Union Home Minister L K Advani in the Lok Sabha that he was not aware of the fact that the state assembly had passed such a resolution, he said Advani later assured the House that he would look into the matter.

He said after Independence, Vindhya Pradesh came into existence in 1948 and a government was installed in the state after the 1952 elections. However, it was merged with Madhya Pradesh in 1956 against the sentiments of the local people, he said adding that thousands of people who protested were jailed.

Tiwari said the state assembly had unanimously adopted the non-government resolution to carve out a Vindhya state on March 10 this year. The resolution had been forwarded to the Centre, he added.

He said this was the right time to consider the resolution as the bill relating to re-organisation of Madhya Pradesh had been passed by the Lower House.

Steps to carve out three new states had been taken keeping in mind the sentiments of the people of those regions. Then why was the issue of carving out the Vindhya state being delayed, he asked.

Tiwari said he favoured the passage of the Chhattisgarh bill in the Lok Sabha and demanded that the Centre take up restoration of Vindhya Pradesh by considering the resolution forwarded to it by the state assembly.

Meanwhile, Rampratap Singh, an independent legislator from Nagaud (Satna), said he had given notice in the Vidhan Sabha for discussion on the demand for the Vindhya state through an adjournment motion.

UNI

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