Vidarbha movement needs honest leadership: Suresh Dwadashiwar
Nagpur: ‘Demand for statehood to Vidarbha is very old. It was first raised 95 years back in 1920 during Nagpur convention. That time Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had supported the demand for separate Vidarbha. But after this the political situation changed. Those who never raised demand for separate state got new state but Vidarbha could never become a separate state. Bapuji Aney was the pioneer of Vidarbha movement but the movement fizzled out as it did not get any competent and high-caliber leader to take the movement forward”, said Lokmat editor Suresh Dwadashiwar.
He was speaking after releasing the book ‘Vidarbha Gatha’, a book on Vidarbha penned by Maharshtra’s Advocate General Shrihari Aney, a staunch proponent of Vidarbha at a programme organised by Tilak Patrakar Bhavan on Saturday. For lack of competent leader to lead the movement, the movement for Vidarbha lost direction.
Today sincere and honest leadership is required to take the movement to its logical conclusion; Dwadashiwar said adding that the leadership should inspire confidence among people of Vidarbha.
Dwadashiwar said that the people of Vidarbha are ready for separate state of Vidarbha but they require someone who could instill confidence in them.
Adv Aney said that it is up to the people to decide whether they want separate state or not and last year the people gave their eloquent support to the demand. Some people are espousing the violent cause like in Telangana, but that is wrong. There is provision in the constitution for carving a separate state. Lokmat editor Suresh Dwadashiwar along with other dignitaries releasing the book ‘Vidarbha Gatha’ on Saturday.