Silent March sends loud message on statehood

Nagpur: It was a indeed a silent march, for Vidarbha. But the message it sent was quite loud and clear.
There were no leaders to sponsor crowds, no high-decibel political speeches and no flashy arrangements. Common people, students, youth, professionals and their families who seriously feel that creation of Vidarbha state is a feasible idea and need of the hour joined voluntarily.

“This is for the first time that such an experiment has been tried and met with moderate success. All on the contribution from public and a low budget affair,” said Nitin Ronghe, the diehard Vidarbha supporter who was the spirit behind the march.

Around 500 people gathered at Samvidhan Square to show solidarity for the cause. They took a pledge for creation of separate state and signed on a cloth banner put up at the venue. Later, they marched towards Yeshwant Stadium. The highlight of the march was the address to the small crowd by a schoolgirl, a boy student and widow of a farmer. They made a string pitch for the statehood. “We have nothing to lose but everything to gain if the separate state of Vidarbha is created,” they said . To bring home the point of facelessness of the march, the speakers did not reveal their identity.

Of course representatives of about a dozen organizations wedded to the cause were present, including Janmanch, VCAN, VIRA, Kisan Seva Sangh to name a few. “This was a novel attempt of roping in common people into the movement. We are hoping to replicate it now in every district of the region,” said Ronghe.