http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/marathas-drop-demand-for-political-reservation/374504/
Marathas drop demand for political reservation SiddharthKelkar Posted: Oct 17, 2008 at 0144 hrs IST Pune, October 16 CHANGE OF TACK: Panel says quota in education and jobs will do, wants special OBC category for community In an interesting turn to the issue of reservation for the Maratha community, the coordination committee of Maratha organisations on Thursday declared that it would not demand political reservation as Marathas already have a strong representation in state politics. This has come with most OBC leaders opposing any shrinking of their existing quota on account of a new entrant. "We don't want reservation in politics. But our demand for reservation in education and government jobs still stands," said Purushottam Khedekar, executive president of the Maratha coordination committee, an umbrealla of nine Maratha organisations. Khedekar said that there should be a special OBC quota for Marathas. "We don't want to disturb the present 19 per cent quota of OBC. The government should consider a separate 30 per cent quota for Marathas that would take the total reservation to 82 per cent," he said. "We will meet the Chief Minister with the new demands and appeal to him to pass a bill in the winter session of the Assembly," said Rajendra Kondhare, convener of the committee. He claimed that the committee had met all party leaders on the issue and had been assured their support. Party leaders are playing it safe and say they won't mind reservations to Marathas based on economic grounds, though they wanted a special OBC quota for the community. But OBC leaders in most parties opposed the idea of including the Maratha community in the present 19 per cent quota for OBCs. "The BJP is of the opinion that Marathas should be given reservation on economic grounds and we will put forth our view if ever the state government calls for an all-party meeting on the issue," said Vinod Tawade, state BJP spokesman. Shiv Sena leader Diwakar Rawate also supported reservation for Marathas on economic grounds. Republican Party of India MP Ramdas Athawale agreed: "Many people in the community are economically backward and their demand for reservation is valid. But they should not be included in the present OBC quota as there would be clash between other castes and Marathas." BRP-Bahujan Mahasangh leader Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of Babasaheb Ambedkar, too called for a special OBC quota for Marathas and felt they should think of contesting polls as a separate forum. "The Mandal Commission has spelt out 11 criteria for a caste to be given reserved status. Reservation should be given on that basis," said Ratnakar Mahajan, executive chairman of the state Planning Commission. But the end word may be that no party can afford to take a stand that will offend the Maratha community as it constitutes 32 per cent of the state's population. The Congress and NCP have already welcomed reservation for the Marathas. "No party will oppose reservation to the Maratha community. The state government had already constituted the Bapat committee to look into the issue. One should ask for the report of this committee," said political scientist Suhas Palshikar. WANT SOME, FORGO SOME Who's demanding: The coordination committee of Maratha organisations, which includes Maratha Seva Sangh, Sambhaji Brigade, Akhil Bharatiya Maratha Mahasangh, Shivsangram, Chhava, Chhava Yuva, Bharatiya Maratha Mahasangh and Maharashtrian Maratha Mahasanghthey can do without: Political reservation; they say they have enough leaders in state politics already What they want: * A special OBC quota for Marathas * Reservation in jobs and education * Reservation on the basis of economic status, which is low in the community at large Other OBC leaders say: No shrinking of quota for existing OBCs; let there be a special OBC quota for Marathas
