The BJP-led state government is using the issue of separate Vidarbha to divert focus and deviate discourse in Maharashtra, the Opposition as well as leaders of the ruling Shiv Sena said here today.
After the business of both the Houses of the state Legislature was stalled over a private member's bill in Lok Sabha demanding separate statehood for Vidarbha, a senior Shiv Sena leader on condition of anonymity said the whole issue appears to be a drama on part of the BJP.
Every time the state government comes under pressure, the issue of statehood for Vidarbha is brought to the fore and direction of discourse is deflected, the leader alleged.
"Earlier this year, when the government had come under pressure over the charges of corruption during the budget session, the then state Advocate General Shrihari Aney had raked up the issue of Marathwada statehood," the Sena leader said.
Before that, senior RSS ideologue M G Vaidya in one of his articles, had put forth the idea of carving out four states out of the Maharashtra, the leader said adding that the common man in Vidarbha is not related to the issue.
"Aney had tried to hoist flag of Vidarbha on May 1, the Maharashtra statehood day. They miserably failed. They couldn't garner support outside Nagpur city," the leader pointed out.
Congress MLA Yashomati Thakur, who represents Teosa assembly constituency in Amravati district, said the idea of separate statehood for Vidarbha is outdated and has little support in Vidarbha.
"I would like to ask the people who promote the idea of statehood to Vidarbha to face the elections on this issue. They would come to know that they have no support in seven districts of western Vidarbha," she said.
NCP MLC Prakash Gajbhiye blamed the Shiv Sena as well as the BJP.
"This is a nautanki (drama) to deviate people's attention from issues like corruption, inflation, unemployment, farmers' suicides and crimes against women," he said.
"Shiv Sena and BJP both are responsible for the drama. Both of them are together in power in both, the Centre as well as the State. If they don't agree on an issue, they should part ways, he added.
Opposition, along with Shiv Sena, took on the ruling party in the Maharashtra Legislative Council over a non-government Bill moved by BJP MP Nana Patole in the Lok Sabha seeking a separate statehood for Vidarbha that ended up in the House being adjourned for the day. The issue was also raised in the Assembly, leading to the adjournment of the House.
