UP division proposal attempt to befool public: Beni Prasad

Lucknow, Nov 19: Union minister Beni Prasad Verma today (Nov 19) said BSP chief Mayawati's proposal to divide Uttar Pradesh in four smaller states is an attempt to "befool" public.

"It is not even an election stunt. It is just an attempt to befool public," Verma told reporters here.

"If Mayawati was really serious over it (division of UP) why she had not taken any step in this direction in the past over four years...there was not even a demand to this effect at the ground level," the Steel Minister said.

Stressing that Congress was not against smaller states, Verma said, this was not the right time for taking such a step. "A state reorganisation committee should be set up for the purpose," he said.

To a question, he said his ministry was trying to explore employment opportunities in Uttar Pradesh but the state government was not cooperating in providing land for setting up steel units.

PTI