Babasaheb Ambedkar was for separate Vidarbha, says grandson

The statehood demand for Vidarbha is very old and even Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar was in favour of creating such smaller states, Bhartiya Republican Party Bahujan Samaj (BRPBS) president Prakash Ambedkar has said.
       
"The great Dalit leader had made a strong plea for smaller states in the country and submitted a detailed memorandum to the Fazal Ali Commission in 1955, on the issue of smaller states including Vidarbha," Ambedkar, the grandson of Babasaheb, told PTI.

He said Babsaheb had appeared for the hearings of the first State Reorganisation Commission (SRC) headed by Fazal Ali way back in 1955 in Delhi to convince the Commission (on the issue), which later recommended creation of Vidarbha state.

"Babasaheb died shortly after the historic Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Day here. Had been alive for some more years, he could have certainly pursued the issue with Central leadership on the statehood issue," Ambedkar said.

Babasaheb in his memorandum had contended that smaller states would bring in more responsibility and prosperity.

The former MP, who is leading the separate Vidarbha movement here, is presently collecting data and statistics to justify the economic viability of new state of Vidarbha.

On the economic viability of Vidarbha, Ambedkar said according to rough estimates, the revenue collection from Vidarbha is approximately Rs14,000 crores besides the Rs5,000 crores from thermal power generation.

The overall Central taxes collection of Maharashtra was estimated to be around Rs28,000 crores including that from Vidarbha. If separate Vidarbha is created, the new state will get its share from the Central kitty, Ambedkar said.

Moreover, the Fiannce Commission gives grants to new states, he said. Also, royalty from coal and other minerals will come to Vidarbha, Ambedkar who had earlier represented Akola in Parliament, asserted.