The NCP has supported the demand for a separate Vidarbha state, but water resource minister and NCP chief’s nephew Ajit Pawar on Thursday indicated that he did not want a separate state.
“We have supported the demand for Vidarbha and Marathwada in the past five years,” he said. “Nobody should doubt our intentions. But we should create such an atmosphere that no one should feel the need for a separate Vidarbha. We will not divert any funds allocated to any region. This is my assurance.”
Pawar was speaking at the legislative council after Manickrao Thakre of the Congress wanted to know if the tenure of the statutory development boards of Vidarbha and Marathwada would be extended. The tenure of the boards will end on April 30.
He told the house that the government would ask the Centre to extend the tenure of the statutory boards. “There are still eight days to make a recommendation,” he said. “But I do not want any region to feel left out.”
He announced that the government would give money from the contingency fund to complete the irrigation projects in Gadchiroli district, Vidarbha.
He, however, blamed leaders from Vidarbha for ignoring the region. “Some people enjoyed their tenure in the cabinet. They did not say anything,” he said. “Why did cooperative societies fail in some areas? Cows were distributed in Vidarbha from the prime minister’s package… why did the production of milk fall? I do not want to criticise anyone but it is everyone’s responsibility.”
