The Centre's decision to carve out a separate Telangana state from Andhra Pradesh has given a much-needed boost to the proponents of a new Vidarbha state out of Maharashtra.
The issue of separate Vidarbha has gained momentum after the dramatic developments over Telangana issue and senior Congress Member of Parliament from Nagpur Vilas Muttemwar seizing the opportunity has written to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh reiterating the need for creation of separate Vidarbha.
Amid the Centre's move to initiate the process for the creation of a separate Telengana state, the demand for statehood to Vidarbha in Maharashtra gained momentum, as former Union minister Vilas Muttemwar on Thursday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and demanded a separate state for the region. Muttemwar, senior Congress Member of Prlaiment from Nagpur and protagonist of the statehood campaign for Vidarbha, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Amid a vociferous campaign for a separate Telangana, a Congress leader from Maharashtra has shot off a letter to party chief Sonia Gandhi demanding carving out of Vidarbha from the state.
The agitation for a separate Vidarbha state gained momentum on Monday with all political parties barring Shiv Sena deciding to intensify the movement and call a bandh in support of their demand.
With the United Progressive Alliance government likely to announce a separate Telangana state on Tuesday, the call for carving out Vidarbha state out of Maharashtra has started gaining heat.
Muttemwar, who hails from Vidarbha region, told PTI that the video in circulation was distorted.
Vidarbha region has gained notoriety for a high number of farmers' suicides and the multi-crore irrigation scam. Sanjay Jog reports
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