STATUS REPORT: LEFT UNRESERVED?
The state is unlikely to table the report on Maratha reservation submitted by the Maharashtra State Commission for Backward Classes to the government on Thursday
The commission has recommended reservation to the Maratha community, declaring it socially and educationally backward
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, after accepting the recommendations of the commisison, announced to give reservation to the community under the Socially and Educationally Backward Class
The state is expected to table a bill to amend the Maharashtra Reservation Act 2004 to give reservation to the community. The reservation is expected to be 15% to 16%.
Organisations and leaders representing Other Backward Classes have opposed the separate class proposed for the Maratha reservation
The Congress and NCP have demanded 5% reservation in education and jobs to Muslims too.
report. “There are some elements in society who don’t want reservation for Marathas. Disclosing the report even before the bill is introduced will hamper the law. The government should instead bring in the bill with due deliberation and consultation. The Opposition is ready to extend every help to the government,” he said.
The Opposition also raised questions over the reservations promised to Dhangars and Muslims. Members from the Opposition benches shouted slogans and disrupted the proceedings by entering the well. The Congress and Samajwadi Party leg- islators also lifted the ceremonial mace amid the ruckus.
Chandrakant Patil said the government was committed to reservation for Dhangars too and the recommendation based on the Tata Institute of Social Sciences report would soon be sent to the Centre.
The state legislative Council, too, saw ruckus over the two issues, leading to two shortterm adjournments and later adjournment for the day. The Opposition raised the drought issue in the upper house and demanded the state announce its relief plan.
Led by Dhananjay Munde, leader of the Opposition in the council, the Opposition demanded the chairman of the legislative Council discuss drought relief by suspending the business on the agenda. The demand was rejected, following which members from the Opposition benches approached the well, shouting slogans against the government.
“Our generation gave examples of the drought in 1972; the future generations will give examples of the drought of 2018. It is severe and still the government is not announcing measures to help the farmers,” Munde said.