MNS disrupts Vidarbha activists’ press meet

The conference was organised by Vidarbha Rajya Andolan Samiti, which is a loose federation of political workers along with social activists and students who are agitating for a separate statehood for the region.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Tuesday disrupted a press conference called by activists demanding statehood for Vidarbha.

MNS workers protest against the press meet called by Vidarbha activists at Press Club on Tuesday. (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT)

MNS activists barged into the conference, organised at the Press Club, and shouted slogans against the demand. “We will not allow such activities to break this state which has been formed after a lot of struggle,” said MNS corporator Sandeep Deshpande.

The conference was organised by Vidarbha Rajya Andolan Samiti, which is a loose federation of political workers along with social activists and students who are agitating for a separate statehood for the region.

The conference was being addressed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Wamanrao Chatap who argued with MNS workers to allow activists to exercise their democratic right. Chatap, a former aide of peasants’ leader late Sharad Joshi, has been a strong advocate of the bifurcation. However, the MNS, which, while displaying a banner of a united Maharashtra, said there would be no compromise on this issue. “We will show them MNS style (read violence) if they persisted with their demand to break our state,” warned Deshpande.

The MNS and Shiv Sena are strongly against the demand while the BJP favours it. The Congress and NCP have periodically changed their stand on the issue and currently oppose the demand to carve a separate state out of Maharashtra.