Govt ready to listen to demands for states: Shinde

As violence erupted in some parts of the country demanding separate states, the government today appealed for peace saying it was ready to listen 'carefully' to everyone's grievances.

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, however, ruled out formation of a Second States Reorganisation Commission to consider the demands for separate statehood and made it clear that no commitment has been given to any organisation for creating any Union Territory.

'I appeal to everyone who are demanding new states that they should not resort to violence. They can agitate but follow the democratic process, peaceful agitation. The government of India is ready to listen to everyone carefully,' he told a press conference here.

Shinde said there have been demands for creation of five- six states in the northeast, four in Uttar Pradesh, one in West Bengal and two-three more in other parts in the country.

'They can agitate but should do peaceful demonstration. They should maintain peace. Through democratic ways, they should agitate,' he said.

The Home Minister said the government was aware of the demands for creation of separate states in Cooch Behar (North Bengal), Bodoland, Gorkhaland and Karbi Anglong.

'It is not that the government is neglecting them. We are ready to listen to them. Wherever workable, the government will take a decision. We have done in the past in Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and in Chhattisgarh,' he said.

Referring to violence in some parts of the northeast and in Darjeeling, Shinde said situation there was not going out of hand and hoped that the organisations would not do anything which was undemocratic.

'Situation in the northeast is calm, peaceful,' he said.