Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Vidarbha statehood demand to be revived-THE TIMES OF INDIA



THE TIMES OF INDIA-------------

Vidarbha statehood demand to be revived

TNN | Jan 3, 2013, 02.02 AM IST

*"The latest winter session of the legislature held here demonstrated it once again. No farmer-related issue was discussed. The region faces grave threat from 132 power plants proposed in Vidarbha. Farmers will be ruined as their soil would be rendered infertile by fly ash. All the power generated here using cheap land, water meant for irrigation would go to far off Mumbai and other rich regions. A separate state alone can provide solutions," *

**The demand for Vidarbha state is a century old. It is time the Centre took note. Measures like boycotting elections should be considered," said Khandewale. While Tiwari stressed on the need for youth and new faces to take lead in the movement, Nevle said there was no alternative to statehood if people wanted development and welfare of farmers of the region.**



NAGPUR: Over 30 organizations have come together in an effort to revive the movement for a separate Vidarbha state. A joint action committee has been formed to steer the movement and it was decided to kick off an agitation on January 13 at 13 hours and 13 minutes of year 2013 with protests against all 10 Lok Sabha members from the region.

Shetkari Sanghatana's ex-MLA Wamanrao Chatap presided over the meeting held at Ravi Bhavan on Monday. Senior economist Shrinivas Kandewale, farmers leaders Ram Nevle and Kishore Tiwari were among those present. The first protest will be in front of city MP Vilas Muttemwar's home on January 13, said Nevle.

The pro-Vidarbha organizations got into action following recent announcement of Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde that a decision on Telangana state would be taken before January end. There is a strong view that those fighting for creation of Vidarbha state should stake the claim now forcefully so that Centre takes note of it and considers it along with Telangana demand.

"The demand for Vidarbha state is a century old. It is time the Centre took note. Measures like boycotting elections should be considered," said Khandewale. While Tiwari stressed on the need for youth and new faces to take lead in the movement, Nevle said there was no alternative to statehood if people wanted development and welfare of farmers of the region.

"The latest winter session of the legislature held here demonstrated it once again. No farmer-related issue was discussed. The region faces grave threat from 132 power plants proposed in Vidarbha. Farmers will be ruined as their soil would be rendered infertile by fly ash. All the power generated here using cheap land, water meant for irrigation would go to far off Mumbai and other rich regions. A separate state alone can provide solutions," said .

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