BackBJP leaders introduce resolutions seeking Vidarbha, Bundelkhand statehood
Two BJP leaders introduce private member's resolutions in Parliament, demanding separate states of Vidarbha and Bundelkhand
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New Delhi: Two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have introduced private member’s resolutions in Parliament, demanding separate states of Vidarbha and Bundelkhand, in line with their party’s favoured stance of creating smaller states.
Nanabhau Falgunrao Patole and Bhairon Prasad Mishra both claim they are representing the views of the people in the Vidarbha and Bundelkhand regions, respectively. Meanwhile, analysts have pointed to the long-standing demand for these states, adding progress will require a wider public movement.
“BJP has always stood for greater decentralization through smaller states," the party had said in its national manifesto ahead of the 2014 general election under the category of “regional aspirations".
Demand for a Vidarbha state carved out of Maharashtra and Bundelkhand state formed from parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh has been around for years now, citing poor connectivity, irrigation and health. Both regions have often been worst affected by drought.
Both resolutions were listed for discussion on Friday, but could not be taken up owing to lack of time. A resolution is defined as one of the “procedural devices" to bring a matter, usually of public importance, and it can be moved by either a member of the House or a Union minister. If a resolution is moved by a private member, it is called a private member’s resolution.
Patole’s resolution on Vidarbha states that “keeping in view the demand of the people of the Vidarbha region and in order to ensure overall development of the region", the Union government should come up with a suitable legislation to carve out a separate state out of Maharashtra. Patole represents the Bhandara-Gondia constituency in Maharashtra and had defeated National Congress Party’s Praful Patel in the 2014 polls.
“I have been raising this issue for a long time now and have brought it up in the zero hour previously. I am a member of Parliament and it is my duty to raise the issues of our people. A separate state of Vidarbha is the need of the hour. Irrigation is a big problem, farmer suicide numbers are high and lack of good education facilities is leading to unemployment in the region," said Patole, who was with the Congress party earlier and is now with the BJP.
The demand for a separate state of Vidarbha, which includes districts like Nagpur, Akola, Amravati, Chandrapur and other major urban centres, has persisted since the early 1970s. The State Reorganisation Commission had recommended in 1955 that Vidarbha and Telangana should be separate states.
When asked whether the BJP-led state and central governments were addressing the issue adequately or not, Patole said: “We will have to look at it seriously. We had supported smaller states in our Lok Sabha manifesto. I feel it is my duty to raise the issue of Vidarbha. I am hopeful that the resolution will come up for discussion on 12 August now."
The demand for a separate state of Bundelkhand gains significance because Uttar Pradesh is set to go to polls early next year and it has been a key political issue for years now. Mishra’s private member resolution demands that the government should come up with a legislation to carve a separate state of Bundelkhand “comprising (of) Chitrakoot, Banda, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Jhansi and Lalitpur districts of the state of Uttar Pradesh and Datia, Sagar, Damoh, Chhatarpur, Panna, Tikamgarh, Satna and Bhind districts of the state of Madhya Pradesh".
“The resolution got listed but there was not enough time, hopefully it will be taken up again soon. The need for a separate state of Bundelkhand has been raised for too long now and there is a strong public demand for it. I have myself been highlighting it on key forums," said Mishra, a Lok Sabha member from Banda constituency in Uttar Pradesh.
This is not the only resolution on his mind. Mishra added that he is going to bring in another private member’s resolution in the Lok Sabha demanding the formation of a “Bundelkhand Vikas Parishad" (development council) which should be brought in place until a separate state is formed to take care of the special needs of the region. “The demand or the private member’s resolution for a separate state of Bundelkhand has nothing to do with Uttar Pradesh elections," he added.
“The demands for Vidarbha and Bundelkhand have been there for a very long time," said Abhay Kumar Dubey, a New Delhi-based political analyst associated with the Center for the Study of Developing Societies. “But, they are usually not acceded to unless a mass public movement is built around it which usually begins with smaller developments like memorandums, representations and private member’s representation in Parliament. Most members also introduce private member’s resolution or bill because it helps them get political attention," he added.
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