Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said there is no proposal before his government to create a separate state of Vidarbha, an issue over which the opposition Congress-NCP as well as ally Shiv Sena targetted BJP.
"There's no such proposal (for a separate Vidarbha state). Carving out small states is a subject handled by the Centre," Fadnavis said in the state Assembly, amid noisy protests by the opposition which forced the House to be adjourned for the day.
Vehemently opposing the bifurcation of Maharashtra, Shiv Sena also slammed the proponents of the Vidarbha state, which has been backed by sections in BJP and some other parties from the region.
Shiv Sena MLA Prakash Abitkar sought a clarification from Fadnavis on the government's stand over the matter even as Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil (Congress) alleged that there is a "fixing" between Sena and BJP over the issue.
Patil said Maharashtra was formed after the sacrifice of 105 martyrs of the movement for a unified state and alleged the "BJP has insulted people of Maharashtra by making and backing the demand for separate Vidarbha".
The Assembly was adjourned for the day as the opposition continued protesting. The issue had disrupted the House proceedings on Friday as well.
Shiv Sena MLAs staged a protest at the main entrance of the Assembly, raising the slogan "Maharashtra should remain united," and displaying a banner lampooning BJP MP Nana Patole, who had last week moved a resolution in the Lok Sabha seeking formation of Vidarbha state.
The Sena legislators also sought an apology from BJP state president Raosaheb Danve for allegedly backing the demand for a separate Vidarbha state.
Earlier in the day, Congress-NCP legislators rushed to the Well of the House and raised slogans for a united Maharashtra.
Shiv Sena MLA from Kolhapur, Rajesh Kshirsagar, picked up the mace in front of the Speaker but put it down after the Chief Minister objected.
Talking to reporters outside the house, Patil said, "Fadnavis should clarify his stand on a separate Vidarbha," accusing the government of "trying to cut Maharashtra into pieces".
"If the Chief Minister is so honest about his intentions, he should table a resolution on separate Vidarbha in the legislature," he said.
The issue also figured in the Legislative Council where
the opposition stalled the proceedings, forcing the House to be adjourned for the day.
As soon as the House assembled, Leader of Opposition Dhananjay Munde (NCP) pressed for admission of an adjournment motion over the issue.
The uproar that followed led to two adjournments with the panel chairman Janardan Chandurkar later adjourning the proceedings for the day.
Referring to the objections voiced by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Girish Bapat over some opposition members sporting cutouts on their person to register their protest over the issue, Munde sought to know if the government is allergic to the idea of unified Maharashtra.
He said BJP members had indulged in similar tactics when they were in opposition.
Bapat, however, said, "Such acts never took place in this House of seniors during the previous regime."
Munde charged BJP with trying to break the unity of Maharashtra as the state observes the 96th anniversary of late Annabhau Sathe, who fought for a unified Maharashtra.
Shiv Sena member Neelam Gorhe claimed state BJP president had favored separate statehood of Vidharbha.
Some opposition members including Sharad Ranpise (Congress) were seen sporting cutouts that read "Akhand Maharashtra Majha" (Unified Maharashtra is Mine), while Gorhe had a saffron cap on with "unified Maharashtra" inscribed on it.
"The debate over balkanisation of the state was kicked off by former Advocate General Shrihari Aney. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should reply as to whether Maharashtra will remain unified or not," Munde said, demanding resignation of the Chief Minister.
Supporting the demand for an adjournment motion on the issue, senior Congress member and former Chief Minister Narayan Rane wanted to know why the government was so keen on "balkanisation" of the state when the people were not in favor of it.
"The state BJP president Raosaheb Danve is playing with the sentiments of the people," Rane said, daring BJP to dissolve the Assembly and face elections.
Rane also reminded Fadnavis that he had taken oath as the Chief Minister of a unified Maharashtra.
Sanjay Dutt (Cong) alleged that on the one hand Fadnavis was talking of "Make In Maharashtra" and on the other of "Break In Maharashtra."
As leader of the House, Minister for Public Works Department Chandrakant Patil tried to speak on the state reorganisation commission recommendations, Panel Chairman Janardan Chandurkar adjourned the proceedings for the day.
