Nagpur: Maharashtra Education minister Vinod Tawde's attempt to include the 'Samyukta Maharashtra' agitation in school history textbooks has been vehemently opposed by pro-Vidarbha leaders here who described the proposal as not only "anti-Vidarbha" but also an unsuccessful bid to supress the demand for creation of a separate state.

Tawade's idea has met reservations by pro-separate state organizations as well as academicians and historians. Vidarbha Connect, a social forum seeking statehood for Vidarbha, has opposed the move, while others said that any mention of united Maharashtra agitation without that of separate Vidarbha movement would amount to distorting history.