Even as the BJP government at the Centre has clarified that it did not propose to go ahead with statehood for Vidarbha, senior Congress leaders from the region have started a campaign for the same. Former minister Nitin Raut, Vilas Muttemwar and Satish Chaturvedi have joined hands to start a campaign from Yeotmal. They are expected to address a rally in Chandrapur on Sunday.
The pro-Vidarba leaders addressed a small meeting where they reiterated that only statehood would ensure the development of Vidarbha. During their speech, the leaders criticised former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, Narayan Rane and leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe -Patil.
“Former CM Chavan, Rane and Vikhe-Patil are selfish and they don’t know the pulse of the Vidarbha people,” said Dr Raut, who was a minister in Mr Chavan’s cabinet.
Referring to the Union government’s clarification that it did not propose to carve out a separate Vidarbha state, Dr Raut said, “Vidarbha was on the agenda of BJP’s election manifesto and now if chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is taking a u-turn from his stand, the voters from this region will teach BJP a lesson in the upcoming local body election and the 2019 Assembly poll.”
Meanwhile, Madhukar Kimatkar, senior Congress leader and a former minister, demanded that there should be a separate Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) for Vidarbha. “We will not get justice from Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), which is led by pro-united Maharashtra leaders and so we need a separate PCC,” said Mr Kimatkar.
Dr Raut said that Congress would try to get a consensus on Vidarbha and meet people to persuade them towards seeking statehood. “In the 2014 Assembly poll, 10 Congress leaders were elected. We stand unanimous in our demand for a separate Vidarbha. If a few MLAs have opposed it in the House, it is because they fear in the new state, they would be out of power,” said Dr Raut.
Dr Raut also said that though there were differences among the leaders, they had joined hands for the sake of Vidarbha. “We hope our president (Sonia Gandhi) will support us over this issue.”
The campaign yatra will reach Chandrapur on Sunday where these leaders will interact with the people.
