How much more can you divide India, asks Farooq

HAVING HIS SAY: Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah is against demands for separate states. "How much can we divide India," he asks. File photo

Amid growing clamour for creation of smaller states, New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah today opposed such demands. “How much more can you divide India. I was never in favour of creation of smaller states. Today also, I am not in favour of smaller states,” he told reporters outside Parliament.

The Minister’s remark comes against the backdrop of several parties and organisations demanding new states, taking a cue from the Telangana issue.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has already favoured creation of three new states out of her state - Bundelkhand, Paschimanchal and Poorvanchal.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, on the other hand, began a 96—hour shutdown in the Darjeeling Hills from today demanding creation of Gorkhaland out of West Bengal.

In Abdullah’s home state of Jammu and Kashmir too, some organisations are demanding a separate Jammu state.