Opposition playing divisive politics: CM Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday attacked the Opposition-Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which is demanding that the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission (SBCC) report be tabled before the Lower House. Mr Fadnavis said that the Opposition has ill intentions and wants to create animosity in society and spark conflict among castes.

Amid the chaos created by the Opposition, the chief minister said that his government is committed to granting reservation to the Maratha community and will place an ATR (action-taken report) before tabling the reservation bill. He also reiterated that the government will not touch the existing 52 per cent quota for giving reservation to the Maratha and Dhangar community.

Citing the rules, Mr Fadnavis said that the state government had appointed backward class commission as per the provisions in law. In Section 14, it is stated that annual report and ATR, on recommendations, should be placed before the House. This is the 52nd report of backward class commission and none of the previous 51 reports were placed before the House. He also questioned why the Opposition is demanding the report to be tabled.  

While replying to the queries of the Opposition including NCP leader Chhagan Bhujabal, Mr Fadnavis, who appeared very aggressive, said that two per cent reservation has been given to Special Backward Classes (SBC) separately. Hence, there is 52 per cent reservation in the state, not 50.

“Maratha quota bill will be introduced in this session only. The government has received the report of Dhangar community, the study of the report is going on and within stipulated period, the study would be completed. The government will take all the necessary steps for giving reservation to Dhangar community. We will send recommendations to the government of India and place ATR at appropriate time,” said chief minister.

Over Muslim reservation, he said, “You (the opposition) have not given reservation to Muslim community, but to the few castes of the community.”