The movement demanding separate statehood for Maharashtra;s Vidarbha region has lost its steam over the past 40 years. However, following the Central government’s approval for a separate state of Telangana, political leaders from the region are again pushing the demand for separate statehood of the region. Political leaders, especially from the BJP are trying to revive the movement.
It all started on October 1, 1938 when for the very first time the Central Province (CP) and Berar (pre-independence name of Madhya Pradesh and Amravati) Assembly unanimously passed a resolution for the creation of a separate Vidarbha state. But, even after 66 years of independence, the Vidarbha statehood movement has remained only as a demand, which has also lost its sheen and leadership credibility over time.
Irrigation expert Madhukar Kimatkar and Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti leader Kishor Tiwari believe that the movement lost its momentum because the leaders lost their credibility in the eyes of people.
It is significant that in the past three years, no strong protest was launched for the revival of the Vidarbha statehood movement.
The episode involving former member of Parliament (MP) Jambuwantrao Dhote is still fresh in the minds of the people of Vidarbha. Once known as the “Lion of Vidarbha” for his aggressive stand in support of the statehood demand, Mr Dhote lost his credibility after joining the Congress in the late 70s, under the influence former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. As a candidate of the Forward Bloc, Mr Dhote had contested an election on the separate Vidarbha state issue in 1971 and won with a comfortable majority. He was elected MLA seven times and in 1980 became member of Parliament as a Congress candidate. After that, his mass support dwindled significantly.
Later, Mr Dhote also joined Shiv Sena, the party, which has aggressively opposed the idea of a separate Vidarbha.
Mr Tiwari also pointed out that the BJP, which supports a separate Vidarbha, did not do anything about the issue when the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government was in power from 1998 to 2004. “Because of such happenings, people have stopped responding to calls given by political leaders for separate Vidarbha,” he said.
“Vidarbha was always a stronghold of Congress in Maharashtra. The hope for a separate Vidarbha state was rejuvenated when the NDA came to power at the Centre in 1998, but unfortunately it chose to avoid resolving the issue and we missed the bus,” Mr Tiwari said. The farm activist believes that mobilisation of people and a strong revolt like Telangana is the only solution left for the people of Vidarbha.
However, Mr Kimmatkar believes that the demand could be achieved by informing the new generation about the injustice done by Maharashtra on Vidarbha region. “People will not actively participate or feel fervent about any issue if not informed in detail, hence I have decided to create awareness among the masses by organising rallies, public meetings and distributing handouts,” Mr Kimmatkar said.
“The idea is to force people to ask their public representatives why they remained silent on the injustice for years or what they have done on the issue of separate statehood,” added the 81-year-old veteran Congressman.
Devendra Fadnavis, state unit president of BJP, who also hails from Nagpur of Vidarbha region, justified his party’s stand for not being aggressive over the demand. “Vidarbha had seen lot of bloodshed in 1977 over the statehood demand and generations were ruined in violent protests then. Hence, we don’t want a repeat of such history,” Mr Fadnavis argued.
He also claimed the BJP would resolve the issue after coming into power. “We are waiting for the BJP to come to power and Vidarbha would be separated this time,” Mr Fadnavis asserted.
Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh president (BBM) Prakash Ambedkar also holds a similar view. He said that the people do not take to the streets anymore because the government has frustrated them. However, Mr Ambedkar was confident that the people will let their opinion know through ballot.
The last major protests over separate Vidarbha were carried out in January 2010. It was the initiative of Mr Ambedkar that compelled some 640 political parties and social organisations to support the Vidarbha bandh that achieved success in January 2010. Mr Ambedkar, who is being touted as a Dalit icon, is also the grandson of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.
“We have made all the efforts for a single demand, and a number of protests were organised in the past decades, but the government took no cognisance. Now, people will teach Congress a lesson for taken Vidarbha for granted always,” said Mr Ambedkar.
According to Mr Kimmatkar, no demand could be justified on the number of violent protests. Every commission and committee formed on the statehood demand has recommended that Vidarbha should be separated from Maharashtra.
Significantly, Vidarbha got three chief ministers, namely M.S. Kannamwar, Vasantrao Naik and Sudhakar Naik. but none of them made genuine efforts for the separation of the Vidarbha region from Maharashtra.