Jhansi, Jan 17: AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi on a visit here today assured the Bundelkhand Mukti Morcha (BMM), fighting for a seprate Bundelkhand state, that their demand would be fulfilled soon. The Morcha led by renowned TV star Raja Bundela met the young MP last night and apprised him of their demands, which they claim was the only solution for ending the backwardness of the impoverished Bundelkhand region.

"Rahul Gandhi has conveyed that Centre has in principal accepted the concept of the separate Bundelkhand state, which would comprise several districts of UP and MP," Mr Bundela said here. "You will have a good news soon," Rahul had assured the Morcha.

During the 15-minute interaction with the Amethi MP, the members of the Morcha informed him about the situation in the region that was ''very disturbing". "'There are no jobs for the youth in the region," the Morcha told Mr Gandhi. ''If such situation continues, the youth might be forced to embrace naxalism or involve themselves in crimes,'' they said to the Congress leader.

Meanwhile, Mr Bundela said except for the Samajwadi Party (SP), all the political parties, including Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Bhujan Samaj Party (BSP) were in the favour of carving a separate Bundelkhand out of Uttar Pradesh.

''In Madhya Pradesh, several ministers of the BJP government are supporting this movement and the MP government had already set up a Bundelkhand Development Authority,'' Mr Bundela said.

The Morcha had last year taken out a 'Sankalp Yatra' from Bundelkhand to Delhi in support of their demand, he added.

UNI