Vidarbha Statehood Demand To Intensify On August Kranti Din
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Talking to media persons, senior leader, farmer activist, and VRAS president Wamanrao Chatap said that the demonstration aims to mount pressure on the central govt to create a separate Vidarbha state under Article 3 of the Constitution. "The current Maharashtra govt has utterly failed to address the developmental backlog of Vidarbha. The only solution now is to grant it statehood," he said.
Chatap slammed the state's financial health, calling it a 'sinking ship' headed towards bankruptcy.
"Despite a revenue of Rs5.6 lakh crore, the state's debt has already crossed Rs7.82 lakh crore. With the state govt seeking permission of another Rs1.32 lakh crore loan from the Centre, By September 30, the combined debt and interest liability will exceed Rs9.83 lakh crore," he pointed out.
Due to this fiscal crisis, Chatap alleged, Maharashtra is incapable of clearing Vidarbha's pending developmental backlog — Rs60,000 crore for irrigation and Rs15,000 crore for public services including health, education, roads, water, energy, and tribal welfare.
"The total due of Rs75,000 crore remains unpaid, resulting in stagnant irrigation growth, persistent farmer suicides, and continued child and maternal deaths due to malnutrition," he said.
Chatap also linked the ongoing youth migration to a lack of employment opportunities in the region. "There is no hope of industrial revival or infrastructural growth under the current dispensation," he remarked.
Highlighting the political marginalisation of the region, Chatap said Vidarbha has already lost four Assembly and one Lok Sabha seat in the last delimitation.
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"There is no scope for restoration unless we achieve separate statehood," he said.
As a part of the mobilisation effort, a 'Vidarbha Nirman Sankalp Melava' will also be held in Gondia on August 17. "The movement is gathering momentum in every village of eastern Vidarbha. I appeal to the public to join hands and make these events a turning point in the struggle," Chatap urged.
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