Opposition politicising issue, says Devendra Fadnavis

Blaming it on successive incapable Congress-NCP governments resulting in strong sentiments for a separate statehood demand, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said that those used Vidarbha as a colony are politicising the issue today.

Reacting to allegations by former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan who stated that the Vidarbha issue was being introduced for diverting the attention of the state Assembly from the scams involving 12 ministers, Fadnavis said that the Opposition has not been able to provide a single conclusive evidence against any of the ministers. He added that the allegations are politically motivated. When asked about fresh evidences provided by leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil on minister Sambhaji Nilangekar-Patil's involvement, he said that these are being verified and prima facie there is nothing new in them as well.

When asked whether he is ready for bring a resolution in favour of a united Maharashtra, Fadnavis said that any issue which has been raised or is on the agenda of Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabbha cannot be raised in the state Assembly. Despite knowing this, the Opposition leaders have tried to capitalise on this issue, he added.

Fadnavis said that the Opposition has tried to disrupt the House time and again on an issue which does not fall in the purview of this House. Also, since there is no proposal before the government, there is no reason whatsoever to discuss this issue in the Assembly.

Fadnavis goes on to say that Congress and NCP, who are responsible for the development backlog of Vidarbha, are to be blamed for the strong feeling for a separate Vidarbha and that is the reason there is no ground for any allegation that the government wants to divert attention by introducing this issue. The issue, in fact, has been raised by the Opposition, he added.

It's in Centre's hands

Making a statement in the state Assembly, Fadnavis said that formation of a separate state was solely a matter in the jurisdiction of Union government and state government does not have any authority in this regard. He said that there is no proposal mooted on this issue by the state government or there is no proposal before the state Assembly. The chief minister is of the view that the House should function as per Constitutional provisions. He alleged that the Opposition was disrupting the House for political purpose.