Hoisting of the specially prepared multi-colour flag was seen as a mark of protest against the merger of the then Vidarbha, the Central and Berar into Maharashtra on May 1, 1960.

Shreehari Aney

Vidarbha Rajya Andolan Samiti, Vidarbha Pradesh Vikas Parishad & few other organisations during a programme led by former attorney general of Maharshtra Shreehari Aney hoisted flag of Separate Vidarbha state in Nagpur, today on Maharashtra Day.

Hoisting of the specially prepared multi-colour flag was seen as a mark of protest against the merger of the then Vidarbha, the Central and Berar into Maharashtra on May 1, 1960.

Shreehari Aney, whose comment on separate Vidarabha had sparked the controversy which ultimately led to his resignation as AG,  said that flag of separate Vidrabha is being raised on May 1 for last three years.

Aney further stated that due to strong opposition by the ruling alliance partner Shiv Sena, besides MNS the movement for separate Vidrabha state has gained momentum this year.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena criticised this move by Aney & other supporters of Separate Vidrabha.

In Mumbai near Sena Bhavan Shiv Sena put many hoarding in against separate Vidarbha. Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackery clearly said in one function at Mumbai that

“We don’t need to pay attention to people like Aney. We will not allow them to separate Vidrabha. We will fight till our last breath.”

Maharashtra Congress secretary Shehazad poonawalla raised question on BJP‘s stand on this issue in a tweet to Maharshtra CM he asked “#Mahrashtraday CM Fadnavis must tell us what is BJP stand on UnitedMaharashtra Does he support RSS backed Aney?”

According to few media reports that Shiv Sena’s Nagpur unit burnt the effigy of Shreehari Anye as mark of protest & raised pro Maharashtra slogans.
However, there was no report of any unfortunate incident from any part of state in view of the events in support of and against the Vidarbha statehood issue.http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/maharashtra-day-vidarbha-flags-hoisted-separate-statehood-demand-gains-momentum/1/656524.html