‘Padyatra’ in support of separate Vidarbha begins

The agitation for a separate Vidarbha was revived on Saturday when thousands of youth, led by activist Ashish Deshmukh, son of Congress leader Ranjeet Deshmukh, launched a “padyatra” demanding statehood for the region in eastern Maharashtra. Mr Deshmukh set ablaze copies of Nagpur Pact, signed on September 28, 1953, under which Vidarbha was merged with Maharashtra, as a mark of protest. Accompanied by former MP Jambuwantrao Dhote, and his father, a two-time state Congress chief, among others, Mr Deshmukh performed puja at Vidarbha Chandika temple at Shahid Square in Itwari area and commenced his five-day long foot march. The youth leader, after visiting the shrine of sufi saint Hazarat Baba Tajuddin and Deekshabhoomi, where dalit leader Babasaheb Ambedkar embraced Buddhism, will proceed to Sewagram Ashram. The marchers will participate in a sit-in at Mahatma Gandhi’s ashram on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti and end the “padyatra”. Mr Deshmukh said they are planning to intensify their efforts to convince both the Congress and BJP, to support the genuine demand for a separate Vidarbha state.