The Hindu : New Delhi News : Bundelkhand issue rocks Lok Sabha

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 05, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

New Delhi

New Delhi

Bundelkhand issue rocks Lok Sabha

Aarti Dhar

Centre assures country’s federal character will not be altered

NEW DELHI: The suggestion for setting up a Bundelkhand development Authority disrupted the proceedings of the Lok Sabha for the second day on Tuesday forcing the government to give an assurance that the federal character of the country would not be altered.

As soon as the House met, Deputy Leader Sushma Swaraj sought to know from the government the status on the move to set up a development authority for the drought-hit region spread across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

“There is no proposal before the government which will alter the federal character of the country,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said when the members insisted on a statement from the government.

Normality was restored after the government statement, which, however, did not make specific reference to creation of the board for development of a backward area which falls in both the States.

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last week seeking a Rs. 8,000 crore package for Bundelkhand and creation of a board for development of the area.

The Bharatiya Janata Party and Bahujan Samaj Party had created an uproar in the House on Monday on the issue leading to its adjournment.

They were opposed to the move to set up the Bundelkhand Development Authority without consulting the Madhya Pradesh and the Uttar Pradesh governments saying it smacked of disrespect to the federal character of the country.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi