Mumbai:Senior leader and former minister Narayan Rane is wholeheartedly supporting chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ efforts with regard to the Maratha reservation issue. He said that it would be a historic act if the Maratha reservation became a reality. Mr Rane, without naming OBC leaders, also said that the people who had received reservation were now opposing it. He also appealed to leaders not to politicise the matter.
Mr Rane, Rajya Sabha (RS) MP who helmed the committee under the former Congress-NCP government which gave 10 per cent reservation to the Maratha community, exclusively told The Asian Age, “The committee under my leadership had given ‘educationally and socially backward class’ status to the Marathas. This government has changed it to ‘socially and educationally’. It is basically the same. Now, under articles 15 (4) and 16 (4) of the Constitution, the state can grant reservation status to the Maratha community. This government is intending to do that, which is a welcome step.”
On the debate over tabling the report of the backward commission, Mr Rane said that it was not necessary for the government to present it on the floor of the house. “It is in a way consultation. There is no compulsion on the government to accept it in totality or present it in the house. The government should see to it that the issue gets resolved and the community gets reservation. In that case, it is entitled not to present the report in the house,” he said.
About OBC organisations and a few leaders’ statements against Maratha reservation, Mr Rane said, “Those who received the benefits of reservation are now opposing reservation. They are creating confusion among the people. The government has assured that there won’t be a cut in the reservation given to any other community. Then why are these people opposing? This is just politics.”
Supporting Muslims’ demand for reservation, Mr Rane said, “It was given in 2014 and the Bombay high court also cleared it. So, the government should clear it for the benefit of the Muslim community.”
BOX: About Dhangar reservation, Mr Rane said that the people who had no idea about the legal complications in the matter had given impractical assurances before the elections. Without naming the BJP, Mr Rane said that those people had now understood the reality of the issue. The BJP leaders had assured before 2014 that Dhangar reservation would be given in the first cabinet if they were voted to power. Mr Rane suggested that the state government make a resolution and send it to the Centre for further action.
