Chattisgarh Bill okayed

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, AUG. 9. Parliament today gave its nod for the creation of a separate State of Chattisgarh with the Rajya Sabha passing the Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, 2000 by voice vote. The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha last Monday.

Replying to the discussion on the Bill, the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, said that creation of new States was not the prescription for development but experience showed that manageability and administrative viability were indeed ``big factors'' in ensuring better governance and meeting aspirations of the people. He also cautioned against attempts of embarking upon a ``simplistic analysis'' behind the rationale of creating new States.

The proposed tribal-dominated Chattisgarh State, comprising 16 districts, has a population of 1.75 crore. The Bill had a smooth passage despite reservations by a few members.

Mr. Advani thanked the main opposition party for extending full support to the Bill in both Houses. ``It would not have been possible to get the Bill through without their cooperation and whole-hearted support,'' he said, pointing to the Congress(I) benches.

Referring to the demands for statehood from other regions, he said the resolution by the State Assembly and economic viability were touchstones for creating new States. Though there was no constitutional bar on the Centre on creating new States, he said, the Government had decided to go ahead only if the State Assembly recommended and forwarded such a proposal.

There was a proposal to set up an advisory board to take care of the problems of Government employees at the time of creation of the new State.

Opposition to the Bill came from the Telugu Desam, the CPI(M), the Samajwadi Party and the AIADMK. In a change of strategy, the TDP decided to register its protest against the formation of smaller States with Mr. S. Ramachandra Reddy wondering how the Centre could meet the financial demands of the new States when it was refusing funds citing a resource crunch.

The TDP was the only ally of the ruling NDA to express an opinion against the Bill, which it had avoided when the Lok Sabha discussed it last week.

Mr. Khagen Das (CPI-M) said the problems of development could not be solved by dividing the States, and instead suggested concrete plans for development. Mr. Margabandhu, of the AIADMK, charged it was a political move aimed at reaping benefits in the Assembly polls.

The Congress(I) supported the formation of the new State with Mr. Arjun Singh and Mr. Suresh Pachauri expressing the party's viewpoint while Mr. Vikram Verma (BJP) stated that creation of Chhatisgarh firmed the natural geographical division of the State.

Vidarbha demand resurfaces

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI, AUG. 9. As a separate state of Chhatisgarh is being carved out, the old demand for a Vidarbha state is being revived in Maharashtra.

About 17 Congress(I) legislators from the region met here today and chalked out a programme for moulding public opinion to making a forceful plea in the winter session of the State Legislature in Nagpur.

The convener of the Separate Vidarbha State Coordination Committee, Mr. Nitin Raut, told reporters that he along with his colleagues - 27 Congress(I) legislators from the region - were elected on the promise of supporting the formation of the new state.

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