The contentious Vidarbha Statehood issue surfaced again on Tuesday, as the activists of the Raj Thackeray-led MNS disrupted a Press conference being addressed by the leaders of the Vidarbha Rajya Andolan Samiti (VRAS) and raised slogans in favour of Äkhand Maharashtra(United Maharashtra).
In a development that took the VRAS leaders by surprise, the MNS activists, led by Sandeep Deshpande and Ameya Khopkar, barged into the Press Conference held at the Mumbai Press club, waved their party flags and raised slogans in support of the United Maharashtra.
The MNS activists, whose party has consistently been opposing the demand for formation of separate Vidarbha State, made a brief appearance at the VRAS’ Press Conference and said that they would “do everything to neutralise the efforts by the pro-Vidarbha agitators to carve their region from Maharashtra to facilitate setting up of a new State”.
Talking to media persons, Deshpande said: “As many as 106 people laid down their lives for a united State during the Samyukta Mararashtra movement in the fifties. But, these people want to Maharashtra. United Maharashtra has come into existence after a lot of struggle by pro-Marathi people. We will not allow their efforts fructify”.
The MNS activists left the press conference venue before the police from the neighbouring Azad Maidan police station arrived on the scene. The VRAS’ press conference after the departure of the MNS activists.
Meanwhile, VRAS convenor Wamanrao Chatap announced that his organization would mass protests in the coming months, demanding the formation of separate Vidarbha State. “As part of our protests, VRAS will organize a special mock session of "Vidarbha assembly" on October 3 and 4 in Nagpur. A budget of Vidarbha state would be tabled and discussed thoroughly in the mock Assembly,” Chatap said.