Mulayam opposes T-statehood

 Samajwadi Party national president Mulayam Singh Yadav said here on Sunday that his party is opposed to the carving out of a separate Telangana state from Andhra Pradesh, stating such division of states weakens the very fabric of the nation.

Speaking to reporters after participating in an “Iftar party” hosted by the lone SP MLA in the state, C P Yogeeshwara in Bangalore, Yadav said his party would not support the constitutional amendment bill required for providing statutory status to Telangana when it is  brought before Parliament.

Yadav said carving out new states was not good for the country, and appreciated Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy’s stand against the bifurcation process.

“We are against the division of any state. It will weaken the country. Look what has happened to Jharkhand (carved out of Bihar), Uttarakhand (carved out of Uttar Pradesh), Chhattisgarh (carved out of Madhya Pradesh). They are in the doldrums,” said Yadav.

The SP chief said Uttar Pradesh is the largest state and was leading the country. “If Uttar Pradesh can move forward united, why not other states?” he asked.