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Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Vidarbha Statehood Demand To Intensify On August Kranti Din
Chandrapur: Stepping up the decades-old demand for a separate Vidarbha state, the Vidarbha Rajya Andolan Samiti (VRAS) will stage a major protest under the slogan 'Maharashtra-wadi Aur Vidarbha Virodhi Chale Jao' (Pro Maharashtra and Anti-Vidarbha Forces, Quit) at Samvidhan Square in Nagpur on August 9, coinciding with Kranti Din. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "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.
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Global Campuses Head to Mumbai, Vidarbha Left Watching, Say Statehood Activists
Nagpur: As five top international universities prepare to establish campuses in Navi Mumbai, statehood activists in Vidarbha have once again raised their voices against what they call 'chronic regional neglect'. The Maharashtra govt's decision to welcome institutions like Aberdeen University, University of York, University of Western Australia, Illinois Institute of Technology, and Istituto Europeo di Design (IED), who have expressed interest in setting up their campuses in Navi Mumbai, has sparked criticism from Vidarbha leaders. They claim the eastern region is being reduced to a spectator in the state's development narrative. Speaking to TOI, statehood supporters argue that premier institutions could have been set up in Nagpur or Amravati, cities that not only have space but also the potential to transform into knowledge hubs. Instead, Navi Mumbai continues to be the focal point of investment and policy attention, leaving Vidarbha sidelined. Former MLA Wamanrao Chatap criticised the govt, calling them 'anti-Vidarbha', and claimed that the decision to prioritise Navi Mumbai is politically motivated. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo "This is being done to keep alliance partners happy and the govt in power," he alleged, targeting the chief minister for 'compromising Vidarbha's interests'. Atharv Kothekar, senior digital marketing manager at the Association for Industrial Development (AID), echoed similar sentiments. "Vidarbha lies at the centre of India and has immense logistical value, but it is consistently left out of major policy decisions," he said. Despite institutions like AIIMS and IIM existing in Nagpur, they are rarely highlighted in development narratives. Kothekar added that inadequate infrastructure — including limited international air connectivity — and a Mumbai-focused model of development are keeping Vidarbha from progressing. "Mumbai is saturated with educational institutions and companies too. It's time we build an ecosystem in Vidarbha, starting with investment in basic infrastructure," he said. Another expert on the topic, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the state govt is diverting already strained resources to Mumbai and western Maharashtra. "There is no political will to support Vidarbha. Even with 62 MLAs from this region, the power still lies in the hands of leaders from western parts of the state," he said. He added that local initiatives like Symbiosis College in Nagpur have proven doubters wrong, showing that the people are ready — it is only the govt that lacks intent. "This imbalance only reaffirms our demand for a separate Vidarbha. Without statehood, these aspirations will never materialise," he said.
