BJP promised Vidarbha statehood for votes, it's up to them: Nitin Raut
Expressing that he has never changed his stand on a separate Vidarbha, Nitin Raut, the former employment guarantee minister in Prithviraj Chavan cabinet said separating the region would sort out all its issues. He said despite the fact that he had suggested to his party leaders to include this demand in party manifesto, it was not done. The step-motherly treatment meted out to the region vis-à-vis Western Maharashtra, according to Raut, has resulted in present problems, including suicides, Naxalism and lack of development. Here are excerpts from his interview to Shailendra Paranjpe where he spoke at length about Vidarbha's issues and presented an analysis of the election scenario there.
It is known that you are a staunch supporter of the separate Vidarbha demand. Why isn't your party supporting it?The Congress and UPA government created Telangana state. Now, it is for the BJP to make clear its stand since its leaders from Vidarbha are in favour of a separate state but are silent as the prime minister has announced that he won't allow partition of Maharashtra. It is up to Devendra Fadnavis and Sudhir Mungantiwar to explain this to the people of Vidarbha.But what happened to your demand of including it in Congress manifesto?I had pressed for it and, being a manifesto committee member, even insisted on it. But ultimately it was not included. Anyway, Congress never promised people of Vidarbha a separate state, BJP did, right from the start and even asked for votes over the issue. That's why the responsibility to answer people is on BJP. Fadnavis and Mungantiwar are both staunch supporters of this demand and, hence, it is up to them.Would it take care of the farmer suicide issue?Definitely! You may not know but Vidarbha generates power for the state, and government grants thousand of crores of power bill waiver to farmers in Western Maharashtra. What will Vidarbha farmers do then if not commit suicide? Whether it is power bill waiver or farmers' loan waiver, everything is aimed at benefitting Western Maharashtra. Would that not give rise to an anti-system feeling?What has been its impact on Naxalism or lack of development?If you don't provide adequate incentives to industry, how can you expect investors to come to Vidarbha? If you don't provide stability and industrial growth, coupled with employment opportunities, what else would be the result other than backlog of development for years and youths venting their anger at the system? If power tariff relaxation is given to industry, industrial development in Butti-Bori estate will speed up. This will not only lead to development but also to employment generation, resulting in curbing the Naxal issue.Has Congress improved since you were routed during the Lok Sabha election?Lok Sabha election had the Modi factor, but now, people are disillusioned with the Union government. Another aspect important for Vidarbha is that BJP has never delivered in Nagpur corporation. It would definitely have its impact and BJP won't sweep assembly polls, not in Vidarbha, at least. Congress will do better.