Veteran CPI (M) leader Prakash Karat has said the demand for creation of a separate state cannot be a base for removal of regional disparity. He said no further separation of bigger states of the country should be initiated in the name of creation of smaller states. Instead, he favoured strengthening of the Sixth Schedule areas for a meaningful and effective autonomy within the States. Mr. Karat was addressing a press conference at Guwahati on Monday morning. On the issue of talks with militants, the veteran CPI (M) leader called upon the Central as well as the State Governments and the ULFA leaders to seat for negotiation without any pre-condition to settle the long-standing militancy issue in the North-East.Earlier, addressing a rally in Guwahati, Mr. Karat launched a strong protest against policies of the Union and the State governments to contain the price rise of essential commodities. Demanding an alternative policy to deal with the price rise, the CPI (M) leader demanded that ‘future trading’ by the multi-national companies should be stopped for the greater interest of the common people. He said the government’s dogged refusal to ban future and forward trading of food items, weakening of the public distribution system and dilution of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and refusal to take stern action against hoarders and black-marketers- are the main reason for the price-rise. He also called upon people to build strong united movement against the ‘wrong’ policies of the Centre and the State governments.<br/>