Divert Make in India investments to Vidarbha, Marathwada: Patil

Pune, May 9: NCP leader Jayant Patil today demanded that "investments worth crores of rupees claimed to have been generated" through 'Make in India' be diverted to Vidarbha and Marathwada regions of Maharashtra so that sentiments of separate statehood "die down".

"Our Chief Minister and Prime Minister are claiming to have brought investments worth crores of rupees through 'Make In India' initiative across the globe. Now, they should divert it to Vidarbha and Marathwada regions so that the sentiments for separate states die down," Patil said.

He delivered a lecture on the topic of 'United Maharashtra and Politics of Separatist Movement' here. Patil said a "bigger and united" state is needed to create "political influence" in New Delhi and to wield a "clout" in the country's politics. Giving example of Uttar Pradesh, he said the northern state wields a major clout in Delhi politics due to 85 Lok Sabha seats (along with Uttarakhand).

"Even the Prime Minister goes to the state to contest in the General Election. It is because the state is big in size and in our context, the time has arrived, when we have to stay united and create necessary political influence in national politics," he said.

Discussing the backlog of works in Vidarbha and Marathwada, the NCP MLA said, "The incomplete irrigation projects need to be completed and the state government should work towards improving per capita income of the region."

Criticising former state Advocate General Shreehari Aney, who is spearheading the campaign for separate Vidarbha, he said there are only a "handful of people" who are demanding separate state. "The common people of the regions do not think on separate state lines," Patil said.

PTI