Joshi rules out ministry for Vidarbha

NAGPUR, Nov 15: Cheif Minister Manohar Joshi today disappointed local Shiv Sena leaders and the packed gathering of slogan shouting workers...

NAGPUR, Nov 15: Cheif Minister Manohar Joshi today disappointed local Shiv Sena leaders and the packed gathering of slogan shouting workers by turning down the demand to appoint a separate minister to look after Vidarbha region and to create a separate ministry.

Addressing the concluding session of the two-day Vidarbha Vision-2001′ symposium organised by Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Nirupam at Dr Vasantrao Deshpande Hall, the Chief Minister devoted a major part of his speech to political issues like the need to strengthen the Sena organisation in Vidarbha.

He lightly dismissed several developmental issues raised by Sanjay Nirupam and other speakers, who mentioned in brief the recommendations of technical sessions conducted on Thursday. Joshi dismissed the entire exercise as a curtain raiser to the winter session of the legislature scheduled to begin here from December 15 and restricted himself to the Rs 4,300 crore programme for Vidarbha region, announced during the last winter session.

Story continues below this ad

Equally disappointing were Sena youth leader Uddhav Thackeray and Industries Minister Liladhar Dake. While the young Thackeray hit out at Sena detractors, Dake reeled out statistics.

The Chief Minister made it clear that there was no possibility of appointing a separate Ministry to look after Vidarbha’s interest.