Nagpur.
Shiv Sena has been elusive to BJP, the day the latter was voted to power, albeit with non-absolute majority. The on-off equation between the two parties took a new turn when the point of discussion was directed to the issue of separate Vidarbha. While BJP appears to be defending the statehood to Vidarbha, Shiv Sena believes it is the development for which the people of Vidarbha have chosen BJP, and not for creation of Vidarbha as state.
In its mouthpiece Saamna, the party said in its editorial, “The BJP won handsomely in the Vidarbha region in the recently held Assembly elections. But they should not think they have got this mandate to divide Maharashtra. Separating Vidarbha from Maharashtra is like separating a child from its mother.”
“When a CM who hails from Vidarbha talks about its separation, it is just like the protector of Maharashtra getting ready to become a perpetrator or wrongdoer,” it added.
“While on his first visit to Nagpur after becoming the CM, (Devendra) Fadnavis said that Vidarbha will be carved out at an appropriate time. Instead, he should have spoken about the development of the region. He should have spoken about empowering the security agencies in Naxal-hit areas like Gadchiroli and Chandrapur,” the Saamna editorial said.
“We only hope that the ‘Fadnavis Express’ runs straight on the path of development of Vidarbha and does not wobble in between. The CM should working towards fulfilling the dreams of 105 martyrs who sacrificed their lives for ‘Akhand (united) Maharashtra,” the Sena added.