Union minister Jairam Ramesh favours UP's division

Varanasi, Sep 8 (UNI) Union minister of state for commerce Jairam Ramesh today said division of Uttar Pradesh could usher much needed development.

Interacting with newspersons here, Mr Ramesh said, he believed that ''dividing UP -- presently having a population of 17 crores -- into three or four parts could usher the much needed development in the northern state.'' ''This is my personal belief and in now way reflective of the thinking of Congress or UPA government at the centre,'' the economist MP from Andhara Pradesh maintained.

''Look at Uttaranchal, which has made siginificant strides on the road to development, after being carved out from UP,'' Mr Ramesh claimed.

Interestingly, Mr Ramesh's statement, though individual, could serve as shot in the arm to Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok Dal -- a key constituent of ruling coalition in UP -- demanding a separate 'Harit Pradesh' out of West UP districts.

Demand was also on for a separate Poorvanchal and Bundelkhand from East and Central UP respectively.

UNI ARS VS MSJ DS1645