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     Scallion Side Hero Username: Scallion Post Number: 2491 Registered: 05-2009 Posted From: 65.217.188.20 Rating: N/A |
Puducherry, Dec 10 (PTI) In wake of the Centre's announcement that it would initiate the process of forming a separate Telangana state, an 'apolitical organisation' here seeking Union Territory status for Karaikal, has renewed its appeal. Karaikal is part of the Union Territory of Puducherry. S P Selvashanmugham, convenor of the Karaikal struggle group (KSG), told PTI that his outfit, comprising freedom fighters, senior citizens and other people, welcomed the Centre`s initiative to set in motion the necessary process for carving out a separate Telangana from Andhra Pradesh. "We welcome the current development in respect of Telangana. At the same time the KSG, which had been seeking separate Union Territory status for Karaikal, would intensify its demand if the Centre did not bring in a legislation (to delink Karaikal from Puducherry) in current session of Parliament," he said. Jai NTR, Jai Jai TDP | ||
| Scallion Side Hero Username: Scallion Post Number: 2490 Registered: 05-2009 Posted From: 65.217.188.20 Rating: N/A |
MUMBAI: With the Centre warming up to the demand for a separate Telangana, leaders from the backward region of Vidarbha in Maharashtra are up on their feet. They are now looking at raising the pitch over statehood for Vidarbha. Congress MPs from Vidarbha are set to request the Union government to consider the longstanding demand for Vidarbha's separation. Congress MP from Nagpur Vilas Muttemwar told The Hindu on the phone, "This morning we learnt about Telangana and, as a spontaneous reaction, I would be approaching the Congress high command to reiterate the demand. I congratulate Ms. Sonia Gandhi and the Prime Minister for considering the sentiments of the people of Telangana. I would, therefore, ask them to consider our sentiments too. Statehood for Vidarbha is a very old issue. It never died down. There are many supporters for it." Mr. Muttemwar said his request would reflect the sentiments of party workers as well. He ruled out staging protests, saying his steps would remain "within a framework." Congress MP from Wardha Datta Meghe said, "Ours is an old demand. Committees have noted that Vidarbha would be a viable State. But statehood was not granted because of a lack of political compulsion. Now, with Telangana, [there is a compulsion]," he said. On the other hand, Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh Prakash Ambedkar, who backed the cause five years ago, is planning to intensify his stand. "I spoke to many people today [on Thursday]. Soon, we will be calling a meeting of leaders across party lines. In the coming week, we intend to send a petition to the Centre asking the Congress for an assurance," he said. Vidarbha's reasons for wanting out are similar to those of Telangana. Political neglect has kept this eastern part of Maharashtra backward for long, as many of the influential leaders of the State are from Western Maharashtra. Mr. Ambedkar pointed to a recent example of political apathy and obtuseness. State Revenue Minister Narayan Rane, in a letter to Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, reportedly stated that alcoholism was driving farmers to suicide in Vidarbha's cotton belt. "Mr. Rane's statement linking farm suicides to alcohol consumption [is appalling]. There are so many packages, but then there is rampant siphoning of relief funds. If this is the attitude [the regions needs to be granted separate statehood]." Major poll plank The demand for a separate Vidarbha has, time and again, been raised by all political parties over the years, and it served as a major plank in the 2004 Assembly elections. The Shiv Sena was the sole opponent, owing to which its alliance partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party, had to pull its punches. Back in 2004, the former Congress MP, Banwarilal Purohit, who is now with the BJP, floated the Vidarbha Rajya Party with the express purpose of rallying for the cause. Speaking to The Hindu Mr. Purohit remarked: "If the government concedes only to Telangana, there will be much heartburn in Vidarbha. The States Reorganisation Commission, formed in 1956, supported the creation of Vidarbha after Pranab Mukherjee's recommendation. The people will stage andolans," he said. Jai NTR, Jai Jai TDP | ||
| Scallion Side Hero Username: Scallion Post Number: 2489 Registered: 05-2009 Posted From: 65.217.188.20 Rating: N/A |
The Centre's initiative on the creation of a separate new Telangana State appears to have given a fillip to the longstanding demand for creation of a separate State of Bundelkhand now with the Bundelkhand Mukti Morcha set to launch a 'padayatra' from Kamtanath temple in Chitrakoot district of Uttar Pradesh to Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh on December 16. The 'padayatris' aim to cover 300 km by the time the march ends in Khajuraho on January 1, 2010. This would be followed by a 'kisan mahapanchayat' in Orchha (Madhya Pradesh) on January 26. The Bundelkhand Mukti Morcha has been at the vanguard of the movement for creation of a Bundelkhand State by carving out seven districts of Uttar Pradesh and 12 of Madhya Pradesh. The seven UP districts of the backward Bundelkhand region of the State are Jhansi, Lalitpur, Jalaun, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Chitrakoot and Banda. Though the convenor of the Morcha, cinema and TV actor Raja Bundela, said on Thursday that the people's march for Bundelkhand had been planned earlier, he admitted that the demand would gather momentum now following the Centre's nod for a new Telangana State. "Ours would be a peaceful march through which the Bundelkhand Mukti Morcha will intimate the Centre as well as the State governments about the need to create a separate State. Financial package alone is not going to solve the magnitude of the problems faced by the people of the region," Raja Bundela told The Hindu over phone. Issues ranging from Bundelkhand's backwardness, miseries in the wake of the drought and forced migration of the people have dominated the politics of the region with both the Congress and the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party locked in a battle of political hegemony. Recently the UPA Government at the Centre approved a package of over Rs.7,000 crore for development of the region with the money to be apportioned between UP and Madhya Pradesh. "Unfortunately, funds have often not been put to productive use. Moreover, the 27 MLAs belonging to the region have no say in the development initiative," said Mr. Bundela. In fact, the Bundelkhand Mukti Morcha has claimed that a treaty had been signed by the rulers of 35 principalities of the Bundelkhand region in UP and MP and a representative of the Government of India in 1949 where the idea of Bundelkhand State was born. The Morcha convenor said Telangana and Bundelkhand have a common basis. Apart from Bundelkhand, the demand for a separate State of Purvanchal and a separate State of Harit Pradesh has also been raised in the State. The demand for Harit Pradesh by incorporating four divisional commissionaries of western Uttar Pradesh has figured prominently on the political agenda of Rashtriya Lok Dal. That smaller States were administered better has been the rationale for the RLD's demand for Harit Pradesh. UP Chief Minister Mayawati, too, has supported the demand for creation of Purvanchal, Bundelkhand and Harit Pradesh and for the development of the Bundelkhand region she has demanded a special incentive package of Rs.80,000 crore from the Centre. But two years down the line, the Centre is yet to respond to her proposal. Jai NTR, Jai Jai TDP | ||
| Scallion Side Hero Username: Scallion Post Number: 2488 Registered: 05-2009 Posted From: 65.217.188.20 Rating: N/A |
SILIGURI: Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), the party demanding a Gorkhaland state in Darjeeling, is going to adopt the 'Telangana model'. Inspired by the Centre's granting a separate state of Telangana, GJM has come out of its own decision of not going for any aggressive movement before the next tripartite meet on December 21, and called a three-day long bandh in Darjeeling hills from December 14. In addition to the bandh, "21 GJM members will begin a fast unto death from Friday (December 11) in each of the four sub-divisions of Darjeeling district Siliguri in the plains and Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong in the hills". Clear enough, GJM wants to follow the path of K Chandrasekhar Rao of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) who is being credited to be one of the main factors behind the Centre's decision to give a green signal to the formation of separate state called Telangana. "If the Centre can split Andhra Pradesh and form a Telangana state, why not a Gorkhaland, splitting West Bengal," asked Roshan Giri, general secretary of GJM. "The demand for Gorkhaland for self governance by the Gorkhas traces back 102 years. We want justice, and our call for the three-day bandh is to press for it," he added. A four-member team of GJM has proceeded to Delhi today "to talk on the issue with senior leaders and those who matter", said the GJM leaders without disclosing any more details about their plan. It may be mentioned that the party was preparing to face its next vital tri-partite meet with the West Bengal government and Centre scheduled on December 21. Jai NTR, Jai Jai TDP |
