Vidarbha -- High command had shut us up, says NKP Salve

Vidarbha -- High command had shut us up, says NKP Salve
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

MUMBAI, Sept 21: Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister N K P Salve today openly blamed the Congress high command for the non-formation of the separate Vidarbha state.

``The Congress high command has politically blackmailed us for many decades on the ground that if a separte state was formed the party would lose power in Maharashtra. But now, the days of blackmail are over. We will ensure that a separate Vidarbha state is formed in a time-bound period,'' Salve told a press conference here today.

Salve did not give an ultimatum to Congress president Sonia Gandhi for giving her consent saying that stage would not be reached because, in the months to come, he will have convinced her. ``Even if a separate state is formed, we will not be dislodged since with the help of the Nationalist Congress Party, we will remain in power in the state,'' Salve added.

Significantly, though Salve is in politics for more than five decades and belongs to Nagpur, he was never a strong supporter of the demand for Vidarbha. ``It is true that I never raised the demand at any forum because of pressure from the party high command,'' he added.

Salve, a chartered accountant by profession, refuted the contention of former Rajya Sabha member Shrikant Jichkar that a separate Vidarbha state was not viable. ``Jichkar is a learned and honest man, but at least on financial situation of the state as well as Vidarbha and allocation of funds as per the recommendations of the eleventh finance commission, he has not done adequate home work,'' Salve pointed out.

As per the recommendations of the Eleventh Finance Commission, Maharashtra will get 4.62 per cent towards its share from the centre, while Uttar Pradesh will get 19.79 per cent, Madhya Pradesh will get 8.83 per cent and Assam will get 3.25 per cent.

``In terms of population, these are smaller states compared to Maharashtra, but on the ground that they are backward, they are getting more aid. Under such circumstances, if a separate state is formed, it will get more financial assitance and in that event, Maharashtra will be at the receiving end,'' he claimed.

Salve also drew attention to a recent report of the Vidarbha Development Council. ``Foreget about the resources, if we sell the power generated from the Vidarbha region at the Enron's rate, we will be in surplus. In that event, from day one, we will get at least Rs 3000 crore,'' he said.