Sharad Pawar urges government to take action on Maratha-OBC quota conflict

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday said the Center cannot be a mere bystander and should take the lead in resolving issues related to quota demand from the Maratha and Other Backward Classes (OBC) communities.

Asked about the growing Maratha-OBC conflict over the reservation issue in Maharashtra, Pawar said there was only one solution and the Center should take the lead in resolving it, adding that changes were needed in the law and policies of the state and the Center.

The former Union minister was talking to reporters in Baramati in Pune district of Maharashtra.

In February this year, the Maharashtra legislature unanimously passed a bill giving the Maratha community a separate 10 per cent reservation for education and work under a separate category.

However, the community demanded quotas within the OBC group.

Activist Manoj Jarange demanded the implementation of a draft notification recognizing Kunbis as ‘sage soyare’ (relatives) of the Maratha community and also demanded a law identifying Kunbis as Marathas.

Kunbi, an agrarian group, falls under the OBC category and Jarange demanded that Kunbi certificates be issued to all Marathas, making them eligible for quotas in government jobs and education.

In view of the Maratha reservation reservation demand, two OBC activists have been on a fast in Jalna district since last week, asking the government to ensure that the existing quota of Remaining Backward Classes is not disturbed.

Pawar said: “There will be a need to change the policies of the state and central governments.” “The governments, especially the Center, should take the lead in meeting the demands of both communities and ensure that the agitation does not cross borders and that communal tensions do not arise. Governments cannot be mere observers in this matter,” he said.

The Center should take note of the problems raised by both the communities (OBC and Maratha) and try to find a solution, said the former chief minister of the state. “We will press on this issue and demand government intervention. We presented the same position in Parliament. We will talk to the other opposition parties and try to take a common position on this matter,” he announced. Pawar said the opposition will not involve politics in this issue if the government takes positive steps. “We will work together to reduce social tension, but if they (the government) do nothing, we will unite all parties and decide together on the next course of action,” he said.

During his visits to various villages in Baramati Lok Sabha constituency since last week and raising issues related to farmers, Pawar said he had written a letter to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde seeking a meeting to discuss the issues raised by the villagers. “I asked him (CM) to call a meeting in Mumbai on this issue. I will also talk to him by phone. “I will present all the issues related to farmers, water scarcity, milk prices and irrigation projects that I have encountered during my visits to the region,” he said.

Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule was recently elected from the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency for a fourth term.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)