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Three new states on the anvil, full statehood for Delhi

Union Home Minister L K Advani on Monday announced at a cabinet meeting a decision to grant full statehood to Delhi and to carve out the new states of Uttarakhand, Vananchal and Chattisgarh.

Advani said the decision was in fulfilment of promises made by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government in the national agenda of governance.

The government's decision will require the presidential nod under Article 3 of the Constitution to be referred to the respective state legislatures before parliamentary approval.

The home minister did not indicate a time frame for the completion of the process but hoped it would take place within the current session of Parliament.

The state legislatures will sort out the geographical boundaries of the new states and their names. For example, the question whether Uttarakhand would be called Uttaranchal and whether it would include Hardwar.

While there has already been full discussion on such contentious issues, it has been decided to constitute a sub-committee of cabinet ministers which would go into these issues.

The committee will report to the cabinet on such issues as the financial implications to existing states arising out of the creation of the new states.

Advani said he hoped that the report of the sub-committee would be submitted early enough so that suitable laws can be framed in the current session of Parliament.

With regard to Delhi, a decision has been taken to grant it statehood with an important aspect being the proposal to create the National Capital Territory, which is roughly contiguous to the area of the present New Delhi Municipal Council.

Advani said the Union home ministry will directly administer the new territory with the Delhi police going directly under the control of the state government when it comes into being.

The government has to secure the permission of the President before introducing necessary legislation to create the new state of Delhi, Advani said.

UNI

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