NCP joins stir for separate Vidarbha

After initial reluctance the Nationalist Congress Party, the ruling partner in the Maharashtra government, has joined the agitation for separate Vidarbha claiming it was always in favour of statehood to the region.

Maharashtra Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Anil Deshmukh on Monday announced full support to Vidarbha statehood and agreed to join the proposed Vidarbha bandh call on January 20.

Meanwhile, at an all-party rally in Nagpur, pro-Harit Pradesh leader Ajit Singh accused the Centre of ignoring peaceful agitation and democratic way of protests. This attitude of Centre has provoked violence in Telangana, he said.

Hoping that a better sense will prevail over the United Progressive Alliance government on creation of separate Vidarbha state, he urged the Centre to realise the sentiments of the people of Vidarbha and other regions whose people are demanding statehood.