UNPA will oppose formation of smaller states: Mulayam Singh

Hyderabad, Jan 20 (UNI) United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) Chairman and Samajwadi Party (SP) President Mulayam Singh Yadav today said the UNPA would oppose formation of smaller states in the country.

Addressing the press along with UNPA Convenor N Chandrababu Naidu, National Conference Party (NCP) Leader Farooq Abdullah and SP General Secretary Amar Singh here, Mr Yadav said ''We oppose formation of smaller states in the country. The naxal menace is growing in the newly formed states like Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and Uttarkhand.'' He said the respective state governments lost control over the administration due to the rise in Maoist activities.

Mr Yadav said ''the formation of smaller states is a threat to national integrity.'' Alleging that certain political parties were raising the issue of formation of small states to gain political mileage, the UNPA Leader said ''the SP will not support the formation of Bundelkhand state in Uttar Pradesh.'' On Telangana, Mr Naidu said '' the UNPA will discuss the issue and take a stand at the earliest.'' UNI AP AJ MSJ GC1428