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Ajit Singh raises the pitch for Harit Pradesh

Lok Dal leader Ajit Singh on Saturday announced launching of a peaceful agitation for the creation of a separate state in western Uttar Pradesh, which he warned could take a violent turn if the demand was not acceded to.

"The movement for a separate Harit Pradesh should be peaceful. We do not want you to burn buses or police stations as they are public property. Peaceful means like closure of markets and traffic blockades should be adopted," Singh told his supporters while addressing the first national convention on the issue of reorganisation of UP in New Delhi.

He, however, cautioned the powers-that-be that it would not be possible to restrain the youth if the demand was not met at the earliest.

Extending whole-hearted support for the state's division into four separate provinces - Harit Pradesh, Poorvanchal, Central UP and Bundelkhand, besides Uttarakhand - the Jat leader said UP had become administratively and financially unmanageable and its division was essential for overall development of all regions.

He criticised the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party for opposing the division of UP.

Leaders of the Poorvanchal Rajya Banao Sangharsh Samiti, Bundelkhand Mukti Morcha, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand movements also extended support for a separate Harit Pradesh.

Various leaders from western UP accused successive state governments of neglecting the region and diverting the revenue generated from it for the development of other areas.

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