Patna: Stating that a state should
neither be too small nor too big, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish
Kumar on Monday said he is in favour of carving out smaller
states.
"I am in principle a votary of smaller states... and
my statement is not with respect to Uttar Pradesh or other
states," Kumar told reporters.
Stating that his statement be seen in the right
context, Kumar said, "the states should be comparatively
smaller in concept as the states have biggest responsibility
for development and welfare... a government should be in a
position to have effective control over the state".
"I mean that there should be a state neither too small
and too big in size... there should not be state with two to
four districts," he said.
The chief minister said a state should have not less
than 100 Assembly seats. "A state be carved out taking into
account the population and area," Kumar added.
Earlier during the day, amidst din, the Uttar Pradesh
Assembly passed a controversial resolution on splitting the
state into four parts by voice vote minutes after which the
lower house was adjourned sine die.
UP Chief Minister Mayawati, who had announced the
proposal recently to split the state into Purvanchal, Paschim
Pradesh, Bundelkhand and Awadh Pradesh, presented the
resolution saying that it was being forwarded to the Centre.
As soon as the proposal was passed by voice vote
amidst noisy scenes, Speaker Rajbhar adjourned the House
sine-die.
PTI
