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Vidarbha Flag to Fly High on May 1 as Call for Statehood Grows Louder

Vidarbha Flag to Fly High on May 1 as Call for Statehood Grows Louder

Time of India22-04-2025
Nagpur: Reaffirming its long-standing demand for
separate statehood
, the
Vidarbha Rajya Andolan Samiti
(VRAS) announced that the Vidarbha flag will be hoisted on
May 1
at Samvidhan Chowk, Nagpur, as a symbolic protest against Maharashtra Day. This annual tradition, observed with growing support each year, emphasises the deep-rooted sentiment among Vidarbha residents for a distinct identity and administrative autonomy.
The resolution to conduct the flag hoisting was passed during a meeting held on Tuesday at Gurudev Seva Ashram, Agyaramdevi Chowk. Leaders and activists from across East Vidarbha gathered to strengthen their resolve for the statehood movement, which saw decades of advocacy rooted in economic disparity, regional neglect, and administrative imbalance within Maharashtra.
"This is not just a protest, it's a declaration of our identity and our right to self-determination," said a VRAS representative. The event is part of a larger series of mobilisations, including the upcoming 'Western Vidarbha Nirdhar Melava' in Amravati on May 25, 2025. For the people of Vidarbha, the flag is more than a symbol — it is a rallying point for justice, recognition, and the dream of a separate Vidarbha state.
During the resolution meeting, key voices of the
Vidarbha statehood
movement came together in solidarity. East Vidarbha Division president Arun Kedar emphasised the need for continued grass roots mobilisation, while Youth Front president Mukesh Masurkar called upon the younger generation to actively participate in the cause.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Veteran activist Baba Shelke spoke passionately about the historical neglect faced by Vidarbha, and Nagpur City president Naresh Nimje highlighted the symbolic importance of hoisting the Vidarbha flag every year on May 1. Other leaders, including Sunil Chokhare and Prashant Nakhate, reiterated their commitment to intensifying the demand for a separate state.
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