This story is from May 23, 2016

‘Quit Vidarbha’ stir for statehood soon

‘Quit Vidarbha’ stir for statehood soon
Nagpur: Vidarbha Rajya Andolan Samiti (VRAS) has decided to stage demonstrations in front of Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari’s house on August 9. The minister would be asked to fulfil his promise of granting statehood to Vidarbha or quit the region. Addressing a press conference on Sunday, VRAS chief convener, Ram Neole, said that BJP had promised before both Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections in 2014 that it would grant statehood to Vidarbha.
“However, the party leaders are doing nothing in that direction. As creation of a new state is the prerogative of the Centre, we will target Gadkari, who had personally promised to take up the statehood issue,” he added.
VRAS will hold several programmes to prepare for ‘Quit Vidarbha’ agitation. Former MLA Wamanrao Chatap informed that public contact programmes would be held in every district between July 1 and July 13. “We will begin from Amravati and conclude in Nagpur. Before that, we will hold workshops for youth in Hinganghat, Wardha and Ghatanji between June 1 and June 3. A convention of our youth wing will be held on June 26 in Yavatmal,” Chatap said.
Pro-Vidarbha veteran Sriniwas Khandewale recalled that Vidarbha region was promised statehood if certain conditions under the Akola Pact were not fulfilled. “We will create awareness among the people of Western Maharashtra about non-implementation of this Pact and urge them to fulfil the promise made by their grandfathers,” he added.
A note highlighting the reasons for ‘Quit Vidarbha’ movement will be prepared in English and Hindi and sent to all political parties to garner support, he said.
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