It was only to be expected that the demand for new states would cause a rumpus in parliament. Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha felt the heat of protests over Telengana and Bodoland. One hopes parliament’s urgent business will not be disrupted. Legislation is of the utmost importance to ease the crises facing the country. The case for small states seems to be based on the ground that they provide access to greater opportunity, prosperity and better governance. But bandhs, chauvinism, violence and destruction of public property cannot help fulfillment of these objectives. And there is no doubt that the announcement of the creation of Telengana will fuel agitation for the creation of a host of other small states. Agitation is already spreading from Assam to Uttar Pradesh. India’s balkanization may not be welcome as the new states in view may not be economically and politically viable.
Take Telengana for instance. What will be the fate of a government employee from Andhra who is posted in Hyderabad? The question is whether such employees hailing from Andhra and Rayalseema will be happy to go back to their native places even if employment is available. Agitation for Gorkhaland in Darjeeling will cripple tourism in the hills. Students will be evicted from good schools. Multi-cultural modernity and economic development of the region will take a hit. The West Bengal government has understandably opposed the demand. The blame-game has started between the ruling and opposition parties. A democratic solution is the only answer. That necessitates the formation of a second state reorganization committee. It cannot be said that the new states which have been created have so far offered good governance.
