Call to revive statehood demand for Bundelkhand

“Rahul Gandhi has endorsed our long standing demand,” said Raja Bundela. “By calling for the constitution of the Bundelkhand Development authority,he has laid the foundation for a separate state of Bundelkhand as the authority will comprise the districts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh that comprise Bundelkhand.” Seven districts of the Bundelkhand are in UP while six are in MP. The creation of BDA is a clear step towards statehood. But it will not serve any long term purpose for the people,he said.

“Special plans and packages will do no good for Bundelkhand as we have seen several such plans and packages,” he said.

“We will remain beggars. Now we seek help from the two state governments and if the BDA is constituted,then it will be the Centre. Only a separate state of Bundelkhand will provide a lasting solution to the backwardness and poverty of the region.”

The BMM convener said Mayawati and Shivraj Singh Chauhan are talking of Bundelkhand only with respect to their states. But Rahul Gandhi was speaking for the whole region of Bundelkhand — that lies across both states. The BMM will hold series of “students’ parliament” in all the degree colleges of the region to mobilise the youth and apprise them on why a separate state is needed for the development of the region.