Both Houses of the State legislature were adjourned following stormy scenes on the issue of Maratha reservation on Tuesday, the second day of the winter session. Opposition leaders in both Houses demanded that the government submit the State Backward Class Commission’s report on the issue.
The government, meanwhile, said a decision on tabling the report would be taken after seeking legal opinion. Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil said the Cabinet had accepted the commission’s recommendations to form a special category of ‘Socially and Economically Backward Class’. “We will check whether the recommendations, if challenged, will stand legal scrutiny and then decide on whether to table the report in the House,” he said.
Opposition slip up
In the Assembly, miscommunication between Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders helped the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delay presenting the report. The House was adjourned multiple times following protests by the Opposition.
As soon as the House assembled on Tuesday, Leader of Opposition Radhakrishnan Vikhe-Patil moved an adjournment motion saying the government does not have a firm position on Maratha reservation. “If the government is ready to extend reservation, then why isn’t it ready to table the State Backward Class Commission’s report in the Assembly?” Mr. Vikhe-Patil asked. In the ensuing uproar from the Opposition, the Assembly was adjourned for 20 minutes.
As it regrouped, NCP leader Ajit Pawar contradicted Mr. Vikhe-Patil, saying if the government thinks that tabling the report would trigger certain forces to approach the courts and stall the Maratha reservation process, then it need not table the report.
Mr. Patil grabbed the opportunity, praising Mr. Pawar for his sensible stand. “We accept the suggestion made by him. It is the collective responsibility of us all to ensure Maratha reservation stays. Whether the report needs to be tabled or not can be discussed later,” he said, before wrapping up his speech. The Assembly was adjourned for the day at 2 p.m as the ruckus continued.
Realising their mistake, Congress and NCP leaders held a meeting outside the House, where members of both parties expressed unhappiness over Mr. Pawar’s “unnecessary” assistance to the government.
Taking a U-turn, Mr. Pawar later told journalists that he agreed with the position taken by Mr. Vikhe-Patil and that the report should be made available to the public for scrutiny.
Uproar over drought
In the Council, meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Dhananjay Munde initiated a debate against State government’s “inept” handling of the drought and reservation issues. The Opposition benches started shouting slogans after Question Hour.
Moving for adjournment, Mr Munde demanded a debate on Maratha reservation, linking the issue to joblessness and the drought-like situation in the State. He said the suicide rate of farmers in the State was increasing, and urged the government to grant compensation and relief for the farmers and affected people. “Farmers and labourers have no jobs in this State. There is no reservation for the Dhangar community. What is this government doing?” Mr. Munde asked amid the commotion.
Council members demanded that the government table the report on Maratha reservation in the upper House at the earliest. They criticised the government for taking as long as 22 days to declare a drought.
NCP MLC Vikram Kale, who represents the Aurangabad division teachers’ constituency, said, “Teachers in the State have not been paid, such is the condition of joblessness.”
The Council was later adjourned twice by the Chairman as disruptions continued. It was later called off for the day.
(With PTI inputs)
