Workers of Vidarbha Rajya Andolan Samiti (VRAS) have launched indefinite ‘sit-down’ agitation at Vidarbha Chandika Mandir, Shahid Chowk, Itwari, here from ‘August Kranti Din’ on Monday to draw the attention of the government towards long-pending demand for the formation of separate state of Vidarbha.
Ram Newle and Vamanrao Chapat, leaders of the samiti, are leading the agitation. They said while addressing the workers, that the political leaders after coming to power ignore the demand for a separate Vidarbha State, and hence the workers have decided to launch and intensify the agitation. They warned the ruling party leaders that either they should concede this pending demand or leave the post.
Nawle and Chatap further said that political leaders from different parties came to power at the Centre. Before coming to power, they claim that they support the demand but after that, they conveniently forget it. Even Bharatiya Janata Party had also passed a resolution in the convention held at Bhubaneshwar extending full support to the formation of separate Vidarbha state. However, the leaders failed conveniently to even make a simple mention of the steps taken in this regard.
Vidarbha is rich in minerals, forest, and other fields while the separate Vidarbha has the capacity to become financially self-sufficient, proving employment opportunities to the youths. Newle and Chatap clarified that the workers would continue the agitation till the demand is fulfilled.
On the occasion, the workers also demanded waiving off electricity bills during coronavirus pandemic, reducing prices of petrol, diesel and gas cylinder, etc. At the outset, the leaders performed pooja at the mandir while workers raised slogans in support of the demand. Ranjana Mamarde, President of Mahila Aghadi, Mukesh Masurkar, President of Yuwa Aghadi, Arun Kedar, District President, Sunil Wadaskar, Suyog Nildawar, Rekha Nimje, Sunita Yerne, Tatyasaheb Mate, Prashant Jaikumar, Vrushabh Wankhede, Jyoti Khandekar, Ganesh Sharma and others are participating in the agitation.
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