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Nagpur: Vidarbha Rajya Aghadi, the political ‘alliance’/ group that has come together to fight for Vidarbha statehood has decided to fight at least some seats in the February 2017 NMC elections. VRA is headed by Advocate Shreehari Aney, who had resigned as Advocate General of Maharashtra, after his statement about Marathwada also facing similar issues as Vidarbha had created a ruckus in the state Assembly. Shreehari is the grandson of Bapuji Aney, who was one of the first political stalwarts to stand up for separate Vidarbha soon after it merged with Maharashtra.
Aney disclosed this while speaking exclusively to Nagpur Today this morning from his Nagpur residence at Shankar Nagar.
He agreed that a lot of organizations had mushroomed up all over 11 districts of Vidarbha, under different names, all joining the struggle for statehood.
“They are spread out region wise and not really in confrontation with each other. Their presence just shows that the awareness and gravity of Vidarbha issues has now percolated to every taluka and district of Vidarbha.” Said Aney.
He outlined the four issues that he sees as urgent for the region:
- Farmers suicides
- Tribal malnutrition & resultant deaths
- Naxalism
- Massive youth frustration
Aney bemoaned the fact that the present leadership of the city and state had no clear vision or plan to tackle these grave issues.
“They come up with some fancy project announcements every other day. Projects do not solve any problems! Only policies and planning will, but the Ruling BJP does not seem to believe in either. Tell me, how an express highway between Nagpur and Mumbai will help either Vidarbha farmers or job starved students?”
Speaking about his organization, VRA, he said it is strong in the Nagpur -Bhandara – Gondia- Amraoti, Akola and Buldhana areas where he himself has been touring often.
He had got back from Bhandara just last night.
Sunita Mudaliar (Associate Editor)
