On the Maratha reservation issue, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis came down heavily on NCP president Sharad Pawar, saying that the leader never tried to give reservation to the community, even when the Mandal Commission was implemented in the state. In fact, he kept the OBCs and the Marathas fighting with each other, he claimed.
At a gathering of BJP office-bearers in Nagpur on Saturday, Fadnavis said that the Maratha community got reservation when the BJP government was in power in the state.
It was only after the departure of its government that the reservation was suspended. Fadnavis said, The BJP will neither do injustice to the OBCs nor the Marathas.
The Maratha community in Maharashtra has been demanding reservation for a long time, and the issue has been a subject of intense debate and political maneuvering. In a recent development, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has accused NCP president Sharad Pawar of never making any efforts to provide reservation to the Marathas.
Fadnavis stated that even when the Mandal Commission was implemented in the state, Pawar did not take any steps to grant reservation to the Marathas. Instead, he alleged that Pawar deliberately pitted the OBCs (Other Backward Classes) and the Marathas against each other, creating division within the community.
Speaking at a gathering of BJP office-bearers in Nagpur, Fadnavis highlighted that it was during the tenure of the BJP government in Maharashtra that the Maratha community finally received reservation. However, after the departure of the BJP government, the reservation was suspended.
Asserting the BJP’s commitment to justice, Fadnavis emphasized that the party will not discriminate against either the OBCs or the Marathas. The accusations leveled against Sharad Pawar by Fadnavis reflect the ongoing political tug-of-war surrounding the Maratha reservation issue.
The Maratha community, comprising a significant portion of the population of Maharashtra, has long been demanding reservation to address their socio-economic concerns. The issue has witnessed protests, debates, and legal battles over the years, with the community seeking equal opportunities and representation.
With Fadnavis’ allegations, the political landscape surrounding the Maratha reservation issue is likely to intensify further, as the state gears up for upcoming elections. The statements by the Deputy Chief Minister have brought renewed focus on the role of political leaders in shaping policies regarding reservation and the struggles faced by marginalized communities.
As the issue continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will respond to these allegations, and what impact it will have on the broader political dynamics in Maharashtra.
