Vidarbha statehood activists staged a protest on Maharashtra Day 2026 on Friday, May 1, at Constitution Square and Vidhan Bhavan in Nagpur, demanding a separate Vidarbha state. Nagpur, Maharashtra: Vidarbha statehood activists protested Maharashtra Day at Constitution Square and Vidhan Bhavan by wearing black clothes and releasing black balloons. Demanding a separate Vidarbha state, the demonstrators caused brief commotion before police detained the… pic.twitter.com/a0kcuIVoMy — IANS (@ians_india) May 1, 2026 The demonstrators, dressed in black clothes, released black balloons as a mark of protest. Their action caused a brief commotion at the spot before police intervened and detained the protesters. The activists were later taken away in police vehicles. The protest highlights the long-standing demand for a separate Vidarbha state, carved out of Maharashtra, with activists arguing for better regional development and governance. Learn Marathi if living in Maharashtra, but no violence in the name of language: CM Fadnavis Amid escalating debate over the mandatory use of the Marathi language in Maharashtra, Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis on Friday emphasised that while pride in one`s …