Jaipur:
After Telangana, the demand for a separate state is being raised in many parts of the country. In Rajasthan it was a unique rally that took to the streets. A procession of camels rallied together demanding a state of Maru Pradesh to be carved out from Rajasthan.
As the name suggests this consists of desert districts from the western part of the state. Barmer, Bikaner, Churu, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Jaisalmer, Jhunjhunu, Osiyan (Tehsil of Jodhpur), Nagaur and Sikar. The demand is for Bikaner to be the capital of Maru Pradesh.
The demand is based on the fact that western Rajasthan has been largely ignored by those sitting in Jaipur. The 3 crore people of this region say that industrial output and employment in Maru Pradesh is less than 15 percent of the total industrial output in Rajasthan. The industrial output of Rajasthan during 2005 was 13 billion rupees in which the share of Maru Pradesh was only two million.
Another regional imbalance projected by the Maru Pradesh Development Front is that the road density in Maru Pradesh is a mere 32 percent of the entire state of Rajasthan.
Leading this rally, Jaiveer Godara, President, Maru Pradesh Nirman Morcha said, "There are no industries here, no factories. Development is also very low. If there will be a small state then chances of development will be higher."