Vidarbha statehood gathers pace ahead of Feb 22 march

Nagpur: Stepping up its campaign for a separate Vidarbha state, the Vidarbha Rajya Andolan Samiti (VRAS) organised a Vidarbha Nirman Jansankalp Motorcycle Rally in the city on Wednesday to mobilise support for its proposed long march and public gathering on Feb 22, a day after taking out a 125-ft-long flag march in Itwari.The motorcycle rally was taken out as part of a series of outreach activities planned ahead of the mega march. Participants rode through major junctions in central Nagpur, raising slogans in support of a separate Vidarbha state.
Several riders carried Vidarbha flags, while others wore scarves and headbands symbolising the movement, turning the procession into a moving display of the organisation's statehood demand.The rally commenced from Samvidhan Chowk and proceeded via Variety Chowk, Loha Pul, Tilak Statue, Badkas Chowk and Gandhi Statue before culminating at Shaheed Chowk. Slogans were raised throughout the route as riders sought to draw public attention to the Feb 22 long march. VRAS Youth head Mukesh Masurkar said the Feb 22 long march and gathering will reiterate their demand for statehood, which is aimed at addressing regional development and administrative concerns. The organisation conducted a series of awareness drives in Nagpur and other parts of Vidarbha in the run-up to the event, including flag rallies and public interactions, to consolidate and gather support ahead of the proposed gathering.The rally was flagged off by Arun Kedar, former VRAS president. Several office-bearers and supporters of the movement were present during the event. Among them were Masurkar, Nagpur city president Naresh Nimje, Nagpur women president Jyotitai Khandekar, and Nagpur district transport front president Amul Sakure. Other participants of the rally included Ravindra Bhamode, Ganesh Sharma, Alka Popatkar, Santosh Khode, Vijaya Tajne, Madhuri Chauhan, Shobha Yewle, Vijay Mondekar, Chandrashekhar Shende, Anil Kesharwani, Haribhau Panbude, Bhojraj Sarode, Satish Shendre, Ratnakar Jagtap, Chandrashekhar Kuhite, Mahadev Giridkar, Nitesh Mohadikar, Ramesh Varudkar, Rahman Sheikh, Sanjay Suryavanshi, Sujit Budge, Amit Bansod, Amit Tajne, Prajwal Barange, and Uma Tayde.