Sharad Pawar always supported caste politics: Saamana

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena slammed Sharad Pawar on Friday over his recent comments against caste-based reservation, saying the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief had always “supported” caste politics and was inconsistent in his political views. 

Shiv Sena said that Mr Pawar only intended to earn brownie points by remarking that reservation should be given to the financially backward people and shouldn’t be caste-based. 

“Pawar is respected in Maharashtra as well as at the national level, but he was never consistent with the stands he took in politics. He has always been a supporter of caste-based politics,” the Sena said in an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana. 

Mr Pawar, during an unprecedented interview to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray in Pune on Wednesday, spoke against caste-based reservation. Mr Pawar had said, “Reservation is a sensitive issue. Dalits and adivasis should be given reservation, there is no problem with it... People of other castes are holding rallies for reservation. I clearly believe that reservation should not be given based on caste, but to people who are financially backward.”