TMC seeks govt assurance on no further creation of new state

NEW DELHI: Terming the creation of Telangana as an "election gimmick", Trinamool Congress today sought a categorical assurance from the government that no new state will be created further.

"We have pointed out to the Speaker that creating Telangana just before the polls is an election gimmick and it is creating trouble in the entire country," TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee told reporters here after the all-party meeting convened by Speaker Meira Kumar.

He said, "Unless the Home Minister comes out with a statement that no other state will be created (in future), agitations won't stop. In Assam, agitation has already started. Yesterday few government accommodations were burnt by some agitators. This issue has to be resolved first."

After the Centre announced its decision to form Telangana, the Gorkhaland issue has come back to the centrestage in West Bengal, threatening to assume an alarming situation.

"Some are talking about the formation of Gorkhaland and we are not going to allow that," Banerjee said.

In the meeting, Trinamool Congress also raised the issue of price rise and judiciary functioning, he said.

"We raised the issue of judiciary functioning and the way they are affecting legislative functioning," Banerjee said.

It is not for the Supreme Court to fix the date of elections, nor it can say that a convicted MP or MLA cannot contest elections. It needs a very serious discussion, he said.