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Centre has gone back on its word: Vidharbha protagonists

Tara Shankar Sahay in Nagpur

Vidharbha state protagonists are outraged that the Centre has gone back on its commitment following pressure from the Shiv Sena, which is "economically exploiting the region for Bombay and western Maharashtra".

"Vidharbha has been economically exploited by the Sena all these years and this is why its chief Bal Thackeray is exerting pressure on the central government not to give in to our demand for a separate state. I regret to say that the government has caved in to pressure and gone back on its commitment to create a state," lamented former Bharatiya Janata Party Lok Sabha parliamentarian Banwarilal Purohit, who is spearheading the movement for a separate state.

According to Purohit, Vidharbha region, having 11 parliamentary constituencies and 66 assembly segments, comprises Bhandara, Gondiyar, Nagpur, Amravati, Akola, Wardha, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Yavtmal, Washim and Woldah.

Referring to Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani's rejection of local politicians' demand (including of the BJP) for a separate state, as there was no unanimity in Maharashtra, he told rediff.com that "it is preposterous''. He said Advani's rejection of the demand smacked of sheer hypocrisy.

''The BJP, at its Bhubaneshwar conference, had given a commitment for a separate state. It has now succumbed to pressure from the Sena, which wants to exploit Vidharbha region for the prosperity of Bombay and western Maharashtra".

Local BJP leader Manohar Shende had moved an amendment for inclusion of the statehood demand in the party's political resolution, adopted at the recent national conference. Shende withdrew it when Advani pointed out that there was no unanimity in the state on the issue.

Purohit has been championing the cause for a separate state ever since he started his political career. He was a Congress parliamentarian in 1984 but left to join the BJP.

"I started my career on the Vidharbha issue. In 1978, I was a legislator of the Nagpur Vidharbha Andolan Samiti. A year later, I introduced a resolution in the form of a private member's bill for creation of the state, in the Maharashtra assembly. I also raised the issue in Parliament. But after years of struggle, we continue to be disappointed," Purohit pointed out.

He said, "It is specially galling for us that the government is created Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttaranchal, while our demand has been ignored."

He pointed out that for people within the Vidharbha region, Chhattisgarh was "next door and that is inflaming our passions". The demand for statehood was legitimate and reflected the irrepressible aspirations of the people and "we have now realised that sacrifices have to be made for statehood, for which we are ready".

He pointed out that the movement for Vidharbha started before Chhattisgarh.

Purohit said that during the recent national council meeting, he met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the Vidharbha issue. "I told him that during the recent debate in Parliament on Jammu and Kashmir, he had asserted that he was neither under external nor internal pressure since he was prime minister. How was it that he had given it to pressure from the Shiv Sena, for depriving us of a Vidharbha state now," Purohit said.

According to Shende, the region's resources are being exploited by antagonists.

"This is sheer exploitation of our area and who can tolerate such injustice, as not only is it backward in development but our people are being deprived of legitimate dues," Shende pointed out. He said even young children were 'taunting us' on when the region would acquire statehood. ''This is why our struggle will continue till we achieve our goal," he asserted.

Purohit said the Vidharbha protagonists had conducted a study on injustice meted out to people of the region. He pointed out that while the state government spent an average Rs 145 for patients in government hospitals in Bombay, only Rs 48 was spent on patients at the government medical college in Nagpur.

He also referred to "injustice" in recruitment for government services. In 1992, he said, the state public service commission had recruited 108 sub-inspectors, of which only nine were from Vidharbha. "When I asked them about this, I was told that our people lacked talent," Purohit pointed out. "I told them that I could parade any number of deserving candidates, but my pleas fell on deaf ears," he said.

Former Maharashtra minister Shankarrao Gedam, who is also president of the Swatantra Vidharbha Rajya Sangathan Samanway Samiti Parishad, told rediff.com that the Fazal Ali Commission on state reorganisation had recommended in 1956 the need for creating a separate state.

"The then Congress regime of Yeshwantrao Chavan wanted to cling to power and that is why the people of the region were deprived of statehood," Gedam pointed out.

He quoted Chavan as telling the state assembly in 1960, 'I wish to assure the people of Vidharbha that they need not have apprehension that their legitimate interests will not be protected; on the other hand, they will be zealously guarded and will be treated as a sacred trust of the future Maharashtra government. Terms of the Nagpur pact will be honoured and wherever possible something more will be done'.

Referring to the constitutional amendment for the creation of a separate state, Gedam drew attention to Article 371 (2) which stated: Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the President may order made with respect to (the state of Maharashtra and Gujarat), provide for any special responsibility of the governor for
(a) Establishment of development boards for Vidharbha, Marathwada and the rest of Maharashtra of (as the case may be) Saurashtra, Kutch and the rest of Gujarat with the provision that a report on the working of each board will be placed each year before the state legislative assembly;

(b) The equitable allocation of funds for developmental expenditure over the areas, subject to requirements of the state as a whole; and

(c) Equitable arrangements providing adequate facilities for technical education and vocational training and adequate opportunities for employment in services under the control of the state government, in respect of all the areas, subject to requirements of the state as a whole.

"But all these have been pious declarations and people continue to be deprived. Our forest wealth is being carted away to Bombay. We have no technical education for our children and co-operative boards merely exist in name,'' asserted Purohit.

Gedam said, "If Sharad Pawar and his Nationalist Congress Party promise the creation of a state, we will join it. In fact, we will join any party which promises a state. We will not be silent spectators. We will fight for our legitimate rights."

According to Purohit, the Naxalite menace has increased in Chandrapur and Gadchiroli and "unless something positive is done for the creation of a state, there will be civil war. Nobody will be comfortable in the winter session of the Maharashtra assembly commencing November 27."

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