Govt clears air on UP’s ‘split state’ plan

NEW DELHI: A day after seeking clarifications from Uttar Pradesh over the assembly resolution to split the state into four parts, the government on Tuesday said it moved on the proposal only when there was a broad consensus in the parent state and after taking into consideration all relevant factors.

Responding to a Parliament question in the Lok Sabha, the home ministry in its written response said that creation of any new state had wide ramifications and direct bearing on the nation's federal polity.

"The government moves in the matter only when there is a broad consensus in the parent state, that one part thereof may be separated to form a new state," the ministry said. It added, "Action by the government would depend on the felt need and general consensus".

Referring to the proposal that was returned to UP, home ministry officials said the Centre required clarifications on several key issues before acting on the resolution passed by the assembly seeking creation of Awadh Pradesh, Poorvanchal, Budelkhand and Paschim Pradesh.

Sources said the home ministry asked the UP government to clarify what will be the capitals of the proposed four states, what will be their boundaries, how it proposes to divide the all India service officers, presently working in UP, among the four states and what will happen to the huge debt burden of the country's most populous state.