Congress demands Pune mayor's ouster over Brahmin' remark

Mumbai: Congress has come out strongly against Pune mayor, Mukta Tilak, and demanded that chief minister Devendra Fadnavis ask her to resign after she commented about Brahmin children being forced to go abroad due to the reservation system in India.

Leader of the opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil was the one to make this call and said that if Mr Fadnavis did indeed have a sincere government, he would ask Tilak to resign. “Reservation is the right which has been given to backward classes by the Constitution of India. Tilak’s comment that children belonging to Brahmin families have to go abroad because of lack of opportunities in India due to the reservation system is against the spirit of the Constitution,” he said.

Mr Patil further said that the BJP had used the reservation card for Dhangars and Marathas in the last assembly election. “Now if they are sincere about their stand on reservations, they should seek Tilak’s resignation.” Tilak made the comment last week and has since come forth and clarified that she was misquoted on the issue.

Pune city is known to have one of the largest Brahmin populations in Maharashtra. The state has seen repeated protests from Marathas who have been asking for reservations themselves.

Pune city is currently reeling under the controversy of garbage where the same has not been picked for the past 17 days.

Even though Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had given the responsibility to guardian minister Girish Bapat there has been no resolution yet.

Mayor Mukta Tilak has also been asked to resolve the issue but the fear that Pune might see a rise in health ailments like malaria and dengue as a result has lead to a public outcry.