The BJP government is likely face some heat on the Vidarbha state issue during its winter session, starting from December 8 in Nagpur. The Vidarbha Rajya Aandolan Samiti (VRAS), a pro-Vidarbha organisation, will its first ever national convention in the city at the same time.
VRAS convener Ram Neole said they would be inviting experts to discuss the issue of a separate Vidarbha on December 13 and 14 in Nagpur. About the dates coinciding with the assembly session, Neole said, "It is a national convention which will see about 3,000 to 5,000 delegates. It was planned months before the session dates were announced."
Former legislator and VRAS core committee member Wamanrao Chatap said that BJP leaders, including Nitin Gadkari and Devendra Fadnavis, had made statements before Lok Sabha and state polls that their party would create a separate Vidarbha if voted to power. On the contrary, he said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it clear during BJP's assembly elections campaign that they were committed to an undivided Maharashtra.
"That these people are politicians and make statements for political gains. We are a public movement for creating a separate Vidarbha, which is a legitimate demand, and we will continue to put pressure on the government through agitations till our demand is met."
Chatap said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has no significant role to play in the matter since the power to carve out a state is vested with the Centre. He pointed out that the Andhra Pradesh assembly had rejected the proposal to create a separate Telangana, but the UPA still went ahead with India's 29th state.
It was because of the assurance from BJP leaders, all the 38 pro-Vidarbha organisations, with the exception of VRAS, had backed the party in the recent polls, said Chatap. This helped the party bag all the 10 Lok Sabha seats and 44 assembly seats.
However, the Shiv Sena is staunchly opposed to dividing Maharashtra and its president Uddhav Thackeray has made it clear time and again. With the BJP and Sena already locking horn over their partnership, Fadnavis will have to walk a tightrope.
Plebiscite points to mood
VRAS member Wamanrao Chatap said a referendum conducted Nagpur, Chandrapur, Amravati and Yavatmal had shown that people of the region want a Vidarbha state. In Nagpur, 92 per cent residents voted in favour of a separate Vidarbha. Yavatmal, Chandrapur and Amravati saw the figure at 95 per cent, 96.95 per cent and 85 per cent respectively.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}