Vidarbha statehood activists detained during ‘Black Day’ protest on Maha Day

Nagpur: The Vidarbha statehood cause came into sharp focus after the Vidarbha Rajya Andolan Samiti (VRAS) tried to gain momentum for the long-standing movement by observing Maharashtra Day, observed on May 1, as "Black Day". The symbolic protest turned intense after activists attempted to hoist a black flag at the gates of Vidhan Bhavan, leading to detention of many of them amid high-pitched sloganeering.Earlier, black balloons filled the skies over Samvidhan Chowk, with activists terming as a silent marker of anger, neglect of Vidarbha region.Vidarbha statehood is a deeply emotional call for VRAS. The protest gathered pace through the afternoon as VRAS activists assembled, raising slogans such as "Jai Vidarbha", "Vegla Vidarbha jhalach pahije (Vidarbha state must be formed)" and "Vidarbha is our right" at the square. A group attempted to march towards the legislative assembly and hoist a black flag at its gates, while tying black balloons to the barricades.Police personnel, deployed in large numbers, moved swiftly to stop the group, leading to a brief scuffle and heated verbal exchange. At least 15 activists were detained and later taken to Sitabuldi police station. Those detained included VRAS youth wing provincial president Mukesh Masurkar, city women's wing president Jyotitai Khandekar and youth wing city president Girish Titarmare.Anticipating the scale of the agitation following VRAS's call to observe May 1 as a "Black Day", police initiated preventive action a night earlier. Key office-bearers were detained from various parts of the city and held at different police stations. Among them were Sunil Chokhare, Naresh Nimje, Prashant Nakhate, Pyarubhai alias Naushad Hussain, Shahid Anwar and Prashant Jaykumar. VRAS leaders said the protest was aimed at highlighting what they described as systemic neglect of the region. They pointed to long-pending issues such as irrigation backlog, farmer suicides, unemployment and malnutrition, alleging that successive govts in Maharashtra have failed to address Vidarbha's concerns.The outfit also raised questions over the state's financial health, claiming mounting debt and large unpaid dues have constrained development. According to them, the situation has weakened the govt's ability to invest in infrastructure, generate employment or resolve agrarian distress in Vidarbha. Police maintained tight security across key locations through the day to prevent escalation. While the protest remained largely controlled, the clashes and detentions underscored the continuing tensions around the statehood demand, which resurfaced sharply on Maharashtra Day with renewed intensity.