Ahmed Patel

The Dhangar community reservation issue rocked the state Legislative Council with Opposition members alleging that the state government was not serious about solving the matter. Amidst the protests and slogans, the council was adjourned twice on the issue.

Opposition members strongly objected to state tribal affairs minister Vishnu Savara’s statement that there would be no change in the government’s stand over the reservation demands of the Dhangar community.

In Maharashtra, the Dhangar community is listed under the Vimukta Jati & Nomadic Tribes (VJNT). Local Dhangar leaders have been demanding inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category.

Soon after the House started, the issue was raised by Leader of Opposition Dhananjay Munde, who said that BJP had not fulfilled promises of giving reservation to the community. “The BJP had promised reservation to the community prior to the state Assembly elections, but it has not taken the issue seriously after coming to power,” he said.

Replying to him, Mr Savara said that the government has asked Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) to study the issue.

“The TISS will carry out the study in two phases. In the first phase, several government offices, institutes, educational institutes will be visited to seek the primary information. Also, literature and books about the Dhangar community will be procured for the research on this issue. They will submit their report by December 2017, depending on which we will take the necessary action,” he said.

NCP legislator Sunil Tatkare then questioned if whether the government changed its stand where it had said that the community could not be given reservation.