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LS passes Chhattisgarh state bill

The Lok Sabha today passed by voice vote a bill for creation of Chhattisgarh with Union Home Minister L K Advani saying the new state would lead to speedy development of the area which has a large scheduled tribe and scheduled caste population.

Barring the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party and Communist Party of India-Marxist, all other parties supported the Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, 2000, which was passed after a three-hour debate in the lower house.

Advani said the new state, which is to be carved out of Madhya Pradesh, would comprise 16 districts with a population of 17.6 million, mostly tribals.

"We are not only creating a separate state but also paying attention to the large section of people who have been feeling ignored," he said.

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