08-06-2025
Vidarbha Mukti Morcha's two-day dharna in Chanda for statehood
Chandrapur: The Vidarbha Mukti Morcha and its youth wing, Vidarbha Mukti Yuva Morcha, will hold a two-day dharna (sit-in agitation) on June 9 and 10 at the statue of barrister Rajabhau Khobragade, here, to press for the long-pending demand of a separate Vidarbha state.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The announcement was made by Vidarbha Mukti Morcha leader Kishore Potonwar during a press conference. Potonwar recalled that a resolution in support of a separate Vidarbha was unanimously passed during the BJP's national convention held in Bhubaneswar in 1997. At the time, several senior BJP leaders from Vidarbha, along with Jambuwantrao Dhote, had taken to the streets. The BJP had promised that it would create a separate Vidarbha state once it comes to power.
However, that promise remains unfulfilled, and the BJP has kept silent on the issue.
He added that even though leaders like Jambuwantrao Dhote, Rajesaheb Vishweshwar Rao Maharaj, TG Deshmukh, Tirpude, and Biyani are no more, the struggle for Vidarbha continues. Potonwar alleged that the BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra deliberately sidelined the Vidarbha statehood issue by projecting Shiv Sena at the forefront.
He further noted that the Vidarbha Rajya Andolan Samiti had staged a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar and submitted memorandums to Members of Parliament. While BJP facilitated the creation of three new states — Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, and Jharkhand — it treated the Vidarbha issue differently from Telangana. Later, Congress carved Telangana out of Andhra Pradesh, but ignored Vidarbha's demand.
"There is growing unrest among unemployed youth, farmers, workers, and government employees who can no longer bear the injustice inflicted upon Vidarbha.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
People are preparing for a decisive struggle to save their resources — Surjagad and Manikgarh mines, the rivers Wainganga and Painganga, and the lifeline Godavari," he said.
Potonwar called upon to the youth of Vidarbha to join the movement, stating that a separate Vidarbha would pave the way for employment opportunities for educated youth, industrial growth, affordable access to coal, water, and electricity, and an end to load-shedding. He asserted that self-reliance will reduce farmer suicides, and once Nagpur becomes the capital, tribal communities will save on travel expenses and access justice more easily.
He also remarked that the EVM machines will be "shut down," hinting at systemic change.
Dr Tirumal Mujam, Sunil Junghare, Adv Vilas Mathankar, and Dheeraj Chikte were also present during the press conference.
