The demand for a separate state of Telangana was not unjustified, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said today, but slammed the UPA for taking a decision on a five-year-old issue 'setting the country ablaze when elections were knocking at the door'.
"I do not say that the demand by the Telangana people is unjustified. This was the commitment of the Congress five years ago. Then why has UPA done it when elections are knocking at the door setting the country on fire?" Banerjee asked at a press conference here.
Stating that those who made the demand and would get Telangana would be happy, she said she knew her limitations and could not interfere in the matters of Andhra Pradesh.
"If somebody in Maharashtra wants Vidarbha, if someone in UP wants something, if someone in Rajasthan wants something, will those who run the affairs in the country want to disintegrate it?
"This is most unfortunate. For political purpose and political vendetta constitutional obligations should not be jeopardised," she said.
Stating that it was easy to disintegrate the country, and difficult to build it, she said "If everybody says I want this then the country will be dismembered.
"Why was this encouraged? Did the Congress ever think about this hoping to get a few seats? It is most unfortunate for the country that people who have responsibility behave irresponsibly," she said.
