Rashtriya Lok Dal plays 'neglected region' card for Harit Pradesh

LUCKNOW: The Rashtriya Lok Dal has upped the ante on carving out a new state of Harit Pradesh from the western parts of Uttar Pradesh. It plans to make it a poll issue and mobilise public opinion on it.

"People of western UP have long been demanding the creation of Harit Pradesh. The western parts of UP despite contributing in large percentages to the state exchequer are neglected by the government. Only the creation of Harit Pradesh would enable us to deal with issues of western UP" said RLD general secretary and MP Jayant Chowdhry.

He said that the party would now start a campaign to take the issue to representatives in other political parties, academics and social activists.

He said that the RLD would also raise the issue in the state Vidhan Sabha so that the state government is forced to relook into the issue.

He said that RLD executive meeting has endorsed the demand for creation of Harit Pradesh and they will not let the matter die until it is taken to the logical conclusion.

He said now that the central government has moved forward on the creation of Telengana out of Andhra Pradesh, the issue of Harit Pradesh cannot be overlooked.

Meanwhile, several other leaders like Congress MP Jagdambika Pal and MLA Vivek Singh too have raised the demand for creation of Poorvanchal and Bundelkhand.

Mayawati has already give a call for dividing UP into four parts though the ruling Samajwadi Party is stiffly opposed to it.