BJP warns of violent stir over separate Vidarbha demand

Nagpur, Dec 3:

has threatened to take to the streets to launch their 'final' agitation over the demand for creation of separate

, alleging that the ruling Congress was deliberately neglecting the statehood issue.

"Congress was apprehensive of losing power to NCP in the state in case Vidarbha is carved out of Maharashtra," state BJP president Davendra Phadanvis said here. "BJP will hit the road to continue its democratic fight if Congress does not concede to the demand," he warned.

"The ruling party (Congress) perhaps understands the language of violence only and that is evident from the violent protests in Andhra Pradesh for separate Telangana," Phadanvis told PTI in an exclusive interview here.

It is unfortunate that people of Andhra, particularly Telangana region, had to indulge in violence over a period of time to keep up the tempo for creating new state, he said. Their demand is now being met as Congress-led UPA government brings the proposed new state Bill in Winter Session of Parliament commencing shortly in Delhi, he said.

Phadanvis said BJP was committed to the Vidarbha cause. The party, in its National Executive held in Bhubaneshwar way back in November 1992, had adopted the resolution for Vidarbha, he said.

Criticising the Prithiviraj Chavan government in Maharashtra for alleged inept handling of agri-crisis in the region, Phadanvis said farmers have not been paid compensation even after a number of assurances.

The farmers' suicide issue is raising its ugly head again and a number of farmers have committed suicide due to crop failure in Kharif session, he claimed. A two-day summit on 'advantage Vidarbha' was organised in February but since then industries have not shown any interest due to stiff hike in power and water charges, Phadanvis alleged.

PTI