Despite claims by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde that discussions with a Dhangar community delegation on reservation had been fruitful, protests persist in different parts of the state. The Dhangar community is demanding inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list. While some leaders are optimistic about progress, protesters in Ahmednagar and Satara insist that they will continue until the government provides written assurances. The issue centers on a typographical error that has prevented Dhangars in Maharashtra from receiving ST benefits, unlike their counterparts in other states.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Gopichand Padalkar, a prominent Dhangar leader, led the delegation that met with government officials. They urged the government to issue certificates reflecting the correction of the typographical error. Padalkar stated that other states had already made this correction, offering ST reservation benefits to Dhangar communities.The discussions were extremely fruitful. We are close to getting our demands fulfilled. We told the CM and other leaders and officials that governments in Telangana, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh government had already issued GRs granting ST reservation benefits to Dhangar communities in their respective states. All the Maharashtra government needs to do is change the word ‘Dhangad’ to ‘Dhangar’. This has already been accepted by the State government,” said Padalkar. The Maharashtra government has asked for two months to study the matter further and seek guidance from the Attorney General.
“This committee will visit these states to study whether the governments of those states had constituted committees to study the Dhangar reservation issue, whether surveys were conducted and so on. The committee will then submit their report to the Maharashtra government, which will then forward it to the Attorney General in New Delhi and seek his guidance. Following this, a GR on upgrading the Dhangar community’s reservation would be issued by the Shinde government,” Mr. Padalkar said.
CM Shinde expressed optimism about resolving the issue, and discussions have been characterized as “extremely positive.” Shinde said, “The Dhangar delegation pointed out examples of decisions taken by Telangana, Bihar governments to grant benefits to Dhangars. We will send a team to these states who will provide us a report. After that report, we will send it to the AG and seek his opinion on the matter.”
However, protesters remain skeptical and demand written assurances.
The BJP had previously made promises regarding reservations to the Dhangar community before the 2014 Assembly elections. The issue has remained a topic of contention in subsequent years, with various parties seeking Dhangar community support through promises of reservation.
If the issue remains unresolved, a committee may be formed under a retired judge, similar to the Justice Shinde commission currently addressing the Maratha reservation issue.
The situation continues to develop as protesters seek concrete assurances from the government.