In a significant move that has reignited the debate over reservation policies in India, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar urged the central government on Tuesday to abolish the longstanding 50 percent cap on reservations and increase it by 15-16 percent to accommodate additional communities. Pawar’s call comes amidst renewed attention on the Maratha reservation issue in Maharashtra.
Addressing a press conference, Sharad Pawar, a prominent figure in Indian politics, revealed that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has convened a meeting, uniting leaders from all 28 parties forming the I.N.D.I.A. alliance, an opposition bloc seeking to challenge the ruling BJP-led government in the forthcoming general elections. The state of Maharashtra has been a hotbed of protests by the Maratha community, who have been demanding reservations in government jobs and educational institutions for several years now. Pawar acknowledged the complexities of the situation, stating, “Some people argue that extending the Other Backward Class (OBC) quota to more communities would be unjust to the economically disadvantaged members of the current OBC category. This concern cannot be dismissed.”
Pawar proposed a potential solution, emphasizing the need for legislative amendments at the central level. He stated, “The viable option is for the central government to introduce amendments in Parliament, thus removing the existing 50 percent cap and incorporating an additional 15-16 percent to accommodate the aspirations of various communities.”
The veteran politician stressed the importance of fostering unity among all sections of society, emphasizing that there should be no differentiation between OBCs and other communities. Shifting his attention to the pressing issue of drought-like conditions affecting many regions in Maharashtra, Sharad Pawar outlined a series of urgent measures required to alleviate the situation.
