SP slams Ajit over Dadri agitation, Harit Pradesh

Lucknow, July 29 (UNI) The ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh today slammed its coalition partner Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) for demanding a separtate Harit Pradesh and holding a demonstration against the Dadri power project.

Chief Minister and SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav chose the valedictory address at the end of a two-day seminar on food processing to target RLD supremo and former union minister Ajit Singh.

Mr Yadav said the experiment of carving out smaller states has failed. He said Chhattisgarh has failed to counter Naxal violence and propel on the path of development.

''Smaller states are difficult to handle. Bigger states have stronger governments,'' he added. Recently, Mr Ajit Singh had reiterated his demand to carve out a Harit Pradesh out of parts of west UP.

Later in the evening, SP general secretary Amar Singh wondered how the RLD could plan a protest on August seven in favour of displaced farmers at Dadri when it was part of the state government.

''Although RLD is a junior partner and I would not comment on their decision. But, how could a part of the government hold protests against the regime,'' he quipped.

Mr Singh was interacting with reporters after the end of the seminar.

UP Development Council chairman claimed farmers at Dadri were compensated suitably. He said the compensation awarded to them was better than a package announced by the Haryana government for its farmers whose land was taken for a project.

Recently, former Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh had demonstrated in favour of the farmers, whose land was aquired for the Dadri power plant being set up by ADAG.

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