Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal on Friday said the demand for the creation of small states would only result in more problems for the country. He also accused the Congress of playing vote bank politics in supporting the creation of a separate state of Telangana out of a united Andhra Pradesh.
" Our party is against the creation of small states. It is our stand that the more the number of smaller states, the more the problems," Agarwal said here today.
"As of today, the Congress has found a new issue to gather more votes. On this issue, almost 19 or 20 movements will spring up, demanding new states. This is a decision by the Congress to involve the people in these social movements, which demand newer and smaller states. What I cannot understand is how the Congress president and the Prime Minister do not understand that this is not the basis on which people vote. These issues will damage politics in the long run," Agarwal said.
Agarwal's defense against smaller states comes a day after fellow Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav accused the Congress Party of putting politics before national interest, with the creation of Telangana.
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"If this practice continues, it will divide the country. Nehru had also opposed smaller states arguing that big states cement national unity," Yadav said here on Thursday.
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"The country has become secondary and political interests have gained primacy," said Yadav targetting the Congress Working Committee's (CWC) decision to divide Andhra Pradesh.
After the decision to carve out Telangana as a separate state was made public, the demand for creation of other states have grown louder throughout the country. There have been demands and protests to divide Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and West Bengal.
Commenting on the Congress' welfare schemes, Agarwal said that the deteriorating value of the rupee does not look like a good sign for the people.
"Elections are not far. We will bring the real reform, which are truly targeted towards the welfare of the people," Agarwal added.