Reservation issue rocks Assembly

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Assembly on Tuesday witnessed chaos over the issue of reservation for Marathas, Muslims, Dhangars and Lingayats on the second day of the Winter Session. Members of Opposition parties cornered the state government demanding reservation for the Muslim community while a few legislators approached the Speaker’s dais and picked up the mace and also displayed banners. Due to the continuous pandemonium in the House, the presiding officer adjourned the Assembly till Thursday. Earlier in the day, the House had been adjourned four times.

As soon as the House assembled on Tuesday, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Radhakri-shna Vikhe-Patil cornered the state government over the Maratha reservation issue. Mr Vikhe-Patil alle-ged that the intentions of the government are not right, and that’s why it hadn’t taken the Oppo-sition into confidence.

Mr Vikhe-Patil also demanded that the report of the Maharashtra State Backward Classes Commi-ssion should be tabled bef-ore the House. He said that there is a cap of 52 per cent reservation, and the government should clarify the percentage of reservation it will give. He also dem-anded reservation for the Muslim community. “The high court had vetted rese-rvation for the Muslim community, but the present dispensation is not willing to give it. Similarly, the ball for reservation for the Dhangar community is also in the Centre’s court,” he said.

NCP leader Ajit Pawar said, “If the government thinks that the recommendations of the commission would be tabled in the House, it would become public and could be challenged in court. A meeting should be called with the Opposition leaders and gr-oup leaders over the issue for deliberation.” Mr Paw-ar said that the government should ensure that 52 per cent reservation sho-uld not be touched.

Peasants and Workers Party MLA Ganpatrao Deshmukh demanded that the government should take a step towards ensuring reservation for the Dhangar community.

Replying to the questions of the legislators, revenue minister Chandrakant Patil said that he was of the same opinion as Mr Pawar that if the report would be tabled before the House, it may be challenged as a few people were against granting reservation to the Maratha community.