Jaipur: Rajya Sabha MP Kirori Lal Meena on Tuesday accused chief minister Ashok Gehlot of running a “free scheme to declare new districts” to benefit his MLAs. Meena told reporters that the CM’s statement about increasing the number of districts to 64 from the current 33 without consulting the Centre was against the spirit of the country’s federal structure.
He argued that this was for the first time the country was witnessing the blatant misuse of power in creating districts with the only intention of returning to power in the assembly polls.
“If you look at the history of the creation of new districts by states, you will find that an exhaustive process has been followed from a detailed study, resource assessment, regional consideration, language and cultural similarity. Here in Rajasthan everything has been ignored and the only basis is demand by the people,” said Meena.
He said, “Imagine if this is how districts will be created. If tomorrow 100 people will demand the creation of a new district, will Gehlot fulfil that demand? The unplanned creation of districts will harass the common man, but not the Congress MLAs.”
He added that the population of Uttar Pradesh was 21 crore, which was almost three times higher than that of Rajasthan but it had 75 districts. “The population of Maharashtra is 12 crore, which is almost double, but the number of districts it has is 36. Gujarat which has a population almost equivalent to Rajasthan and has 33 districts,” said Meena.
He argued that this was for the first time the country was witnessing the blatant misuse of power in creating districts with the only intention of returning to power in the assembly polls.
“If you look at the history of the creation of new districts by states, you will find that an exhaustive process has been followed from a detailed study, resource assessment, regional consideration, language and cultural similarity. Here in Rajasthan everything has been ignored and the only basis is demand by the people,” said Meena.
He said, “Imagine if this is how districts will be created. If tomorrow 100 people will demand the creation of a new district, will Gehlot fulfil that demand? The unplanned creation of districts will harass the common man, but not the Congress MLAs.”
He added that the population of Uttar Pradesh was 21 crore, which was almost three times higher than that of Rajasthan but it had 75 districts. “The population of Maharashtra is 12 crore, which is almost double, but the number of districts it has is 36. Gujarat which has a population almost equivalent to Rajasthan and has 33 districts,” said Meena.
