Separate Vidarbha must to solve farmer suicide, Naxal issues: BJP CM aspirant Sudhir Mungantiwar

BJP's chief minister aspirant Sudhir Mungantiwar believes creating a separate Vidarbha state is essential for getting rid of problems of the region including farmers' suicides, Naxalism and backlog of development. Advocating a separate Vidarbha in an interview with dna's Shailendra Paranjpe, Mungantiwar said that creating a separate state was for better administration and to reach out to the last man in the society.

You want a separate Vidarbha but PM Narendra Modi's statement talks about keeping Maharashtra intact
Since the party's inception Jansangh, the BJP has expressed its opinion in favor of creating smaller states. The BJP is of the clear view that smaller states can't be created only on people's demand, but after ascertaining whether it can sustain on its own and affect development.

Does it apply for separate Vidarbha demand?
Yes, in fact, when the first Prime minister constituted state reorganization commission, the council had suggested creating smaller states. Interestingly, many people who oppose Vidarbha don't talk about this but all the smaller states including Telangana which were suggested by this Commission have come into being, except for Vidarbha.

Does BJP have a solution to suicides in Vidarbha?
Farmers don't seek sympathy, they want adequate water for agriculture, marketing infrastructure for farm produce and state-of-the-art technology. The Congress-NCP government has been talking of farmers but slyly clearing projects for capitalists resulting in lowest rate of agricultural development in the state. Moreover, farmers are not organized nor they can reach out to the government for bringing out any favorable GR (Government Resolution). This government has taken anti-farmer decisions like having textile mills where cotton does not grow, and processing units far from where Oranges grown.

But does pro-Vidarbha means anti-Western Maharashtra ?
No, it does not. For example, despite the fact that state government provided power subsidy for farmers for their pumps worth Rs10,038 crores, one district of Solapur alone got subsidy worth Rs1,345 crores and entire Vidarbha got only Rs675 crores subsidy. This disparity and step-motherly treatment results in ill feelings. The BJP would have target-oriented work and a 25 year plan for industry, not a five year plan like this Government.

What is the solution to Naxalism?
During 1995 and 1999, the Naxal problem was controlled. Reasons are simple -- Naxalism is unrest of youth against the government since they are disillusioned with the entire system. BJP wants to reverse this trend. We had suggested separate industrial policy especially for Naxal infested districts, and although the past government had assured so on the floor of the House, they failed to act on it, making this issue grave. Separate statehood can result in speedy development which in turn would deal with the angst.