Lok Sabha passes Bill for creation of Chhattisgarh

Lok Sabha passes Bill for creation of Chhattisgarh
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

NEW DELHI, JULY 31: The first hurdle in the way of reorganisation of states was today crossed with the Lok Sabha approving the creation of Chhattisgarh by passing the Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, 2000, by a voice vote following a three-hour long debate.

Barring some voices of dissent from members of Rashtriya Janata Dal, CPM and Samajwadi Party, all other parties, including Congress, CPI and Bahujan Samajwadi Party, welcomed the Bill. Moving the Bill for consideration, Union Minister for Home L.K. Advani said the new state would lead to speedy development of the area which had a large scheduled caste and scheduled tribe population.

Those opposed to the Bill demanded that it be referred to a select committee of Parliament and alleged that it was part of a move to divide people for political gain.

The new state would comprise 16 districts with a population of 1.76 crore, mostly tribals and backward classes. More than a quarter of the population of Madhya Pradesh would be in the new state.

``We are not only creating a separate state but also paying attention to a large section of people which has been feeling ignored,'' he said. Some states like Madhya Pradesh, according to him, were very big and parts of it had remained deprived of any development.

Advani said even after constitution of the new state, the Centre would have the right for three years to directly deal with problems faced by the state. Creation of Chhattisgarh was not only a popular demand but had the support of the entire state, he said. A resolution to this effect had been passed by the Assembly, he pointed out.

Initiating the discussion, Congress leader Shyama Charan Shukla said during the past two decades the developmental work in Chhattisgarh area had come to a standstill. He urged the Centre to grant Rs 2000 crore for building of a new capital and Rs 8,000 crore for the construction of infrastructure to enable the state to catch up with other areas.

Indrajit Gupta of CPI welcomed the Bill and said it would go a long way in ensuring balanced development of the region. Supporting the formation of Chhattisgarh, BSP leader Mayawati said the Centre should extend all assistance to the new state, apprehending that Madhya Pradesh from which this state was being carved out may not extend any assistance.

With a major section of the population in Chhattisgarh belonging to the adivasi and backward communities, the formation of this new state would help in their upliftment. She sought an increase in the number of seats in the Assembly of the new state from the proposed 90 as also in Lok Sabha where it would have 11 seats.

Among the few opponents of the Bill, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh of RJD demanded that it be referred to a standing committee instead of getting it hurriedly passed by Parliament for the sake of ``vested political interests''. He cautioned the government against rushing through the Bill and ``repenting later when the tribals of the area rise against their under-representation.''

The Lok Sabha will take up the Uttaranchal Bill for consideration tomorrow.