Ignoring demands by ally Shiv Sena and Opposition parties Congress and NCP, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis refrained from clearing his stand on the separate Vidarbha issue in the Assembly on Monday.
Ignoring demands by ally Shiv Sena and Opposition parties Congress and NCP, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis refrained from clearing his stand on the separate Vidarbha issue in the Assembly on Monday. Instead, the CM said that the Centre was handling the issue of small states. The Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council were adjourned over the issue.
Congress MLC Narayan Rane demanded Mr Fadnavis’ resignation over the proposal for statehood of Vidarbha. However, the chief minister stated in the House that there was no such proposal before the state government for creation of a separate Vidarbha. “Having small states is a subject that is handled by the central government. The state government is dedicated towards the development of backward regions of Vidarbha and there is no proposal for separation with the state or the central government.”
However, ally Shiv Sena, which is also opposed to a separate Vidarbha joined the Opposition by condemning the demand for a separate state.
Shiv Sena MLAs had come to the House wearing saffron caps with posters of Akhand Maharashtra (United Maharashtra) and raised slogans in favour of a united state.
Last week, Opposition Congress and ally Shiv Sena had demanded that the chief minister clarify his stand on the creation of a separate state. Congress MLC Mr Rane said it was an insult to the 105 martyrs who laid their lives for a unified Maharashtra.
While Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Opposition member in the Lower House, said that there was some arrangement between the BJP and Shiv Sena over Vidarbha. Both the Lower and the Upper Houses were adjourned for 15 minutes thrice before the speaker in both the Houses informed that the functioning had been adjourned for Tuesday.
Opposition Congress also demanded that the chief minister clarify his stand by issuing a statement in the Upper House over the issue of separate state. Congress also raised the issue of BJP MP Nana Patole from Wardha bringing up a private member bill in the Lok Sabha for creation of a separate Vidarbha.
Meanwhile, Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray, tweeted saying, “The people of the state gave this government its strength to rule for development of all regions equally, not to dissect the state. I hope the chief minister reassures the people of the state.”
