Nagpur: Vidarbha Rajya Andolan Samiti (VRAS), one of the forces behind the Vidarbha statehood movement, has announced a sit-in protest in front of the Vidhan Bhavan on December 16, the opening day of the winter session, from 11am to 5pm. The protest aims to pressure the central govt to immediately take steps toward the creation of a separate Vidarbha state.
This decision was made during a state-level meeting on December 5 at VRAS headquarters in Giripeth. The meeting was chaired by senior economist Srinivas Khandewale and VRAS president and former MLA Wamanrao Chatap, who also contested in the recent assembly polls from Rajura constituency in Chandrapur, along with several prominent leaders.
The meeting began with a tribute to the late Pradeep Maheshwari, former president of VED, a natural resources expert, and a staunch supporter of the Vidarbha cause. His contributions to the movement were acknowledged, and a condolence resolution was passed in his honour.
VRAS youth wing head Mukesh Masurkar stated, "The time has come for all of us, especially for the people of Vidarbha. With a chief minister from Nagpur, who previously fought for the cause of a separate state, it should not take long for our dream to come true. With this intention in mind, we are going to stage a sit-in protest in front of the Vidhan Bhavan, demanding an independent state of Vidarbha."
Leaders in the meeting reviewed the impact of the Vidarbha movement on the results of the recent assembly elections. They noted that despite some challenges, the movement's influence was felt across the region. The need to strengthen and intensify the Vidarbha movement was discussed, with an emphasis on raising public awareness and mobilising support for the cause.
With the central govt's inaction seen as a major hurdle, VRAS resolved to escalate its efforts. The December 16 protest, planned at Vidhan Bhavan, is a critical step in this direction. Organisers have called on all supporters of Vidarbha's statehood to participate in the demonstration.
The protest is expected to bring attention to the long-standing demand for a separate Vidarbha state, with the goal of pressuring the govt to act. The meeting was attended by leaders from various factions of VRAS, including the Mahila Aghadi, Yuva Aghadi, and numerous Vidarbha activists.