Digvajay agrees to six more districts

He explained that the final decision on the formation of the remaining districts, as suggested by the Dubey Commission, had to be “deferred” due to the dispute over the areas constituting these.

Besides making recommendations on the proposed districts involved in disputes, the Singh Deo committee, constituted by the state government, would also examine the similar demand from elsewhere in the state.

“We are fully prepared to meet any eventuality in our defence,” the release said.

On theresignatiions of four Congress Legislators from the State Assembly to press for the demand for formation of new districts in their respective areas, Digvijay Singh said they had done it in response to the sentiments and aspiratiions of the local people.

Asked if the resignations were part of the strategy to see that the agitation did not slip into the hands of the BJP, he quipped “I do not know”.

To a question, he said BJP, like any other political party, would try to exploit the situation.

Asked what the urgency was to create new districts in Chhatisgarh region which was being given statehood, he said it was a long standing demand. It had taken 12 years to take a decision on it. “New districts were part of the demand of the Chhatisgarh people (for separate statehood).

Asked if he apprehended snowballing of state-wide agitations for separate states for Bundelkhand, Vindhya and other regions once the Chhatisgarh state came into existence, he said, “it is all politics”.