Watch: MNS protests against statehood for Vidarbha in press conference, ask scribes to leave

Activists of Raj Thackeray-led MNS allegedly disrupted a press conference on Tuesday called by an outfit seeking statehood for Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. MNS is strongly opposed to any division of Maharashtra.

Dozens of MNS workers, led by Corporator Sandeep Deshpande, allegedly barged into the conference, organised by Vidarbha Rajya Andolan Samiti at Press Club in South Mumbai, and asked the media persons covering the event to leave the venue. They also forced the conference organises to wind up the press meet. "We cannot and would not ever tolerate creation of a separate Vidarbha. We believe in Akhand (united) Maharashtra. We will fight for Akhand Maharashtra and would do whatever it takes (to keep the state united)," Deshpande said.

WATCH: MNS activists forcefully stop Vidharbha Rajya Andolan Samiti's press conference, in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/SWJlMzjaUV

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The Samiti is among a handful of organisations which are leading a movement for decades demanding statehood for Vidarbha, a cotton-rich region in eastern Maharashtra.