Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray criticized the ruling MahaYuti alliance leaders Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar, and Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray for their failure to provide reservation for the Maratha community. Thackeray accused them of instigating caste riots in the state for political gain. He also clarified that his party's stance on reservations has always been based on economic criteria and not caste.
Maratha Reservations: A Lingering Issue in Maharashtra
The Maratha community, a significant population group in Maharashtra, has been demanding reservations in education and government jobs for several years. The issue has gained prominence in recent years due to protests and political pressure.
Background
In 2014, the then-Maharashtra government led by the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) coalition passed a law providing 16% reservations for Marathas. However, the Bombay High Court struck down the law in 2015, citing a lack of empirical data to support the claim of social backwardness.
In 2018, the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP-Shiv Sena government amended the law to provide 12% reservations for Marathas. This too was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2019, again citing insufficient data.
Recent Developments
In January 2023, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray criticized the ruling MahaYuti alliance leaders for their failure to fulfill their promises of reservations for Marathas. He accused them of instigating caste riots in the state for political gain.
Thackeray also clarified that his party's stance on reservations has always been based on economic criteria and not caste. He believes that economic backwardness should be the primary consideration for reservations.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
1. What is the Maratha community in Maharashtra? The Marathas are a historically dominant caste group in Maharashtra, comprising approximately 33% of the state's population.
2. Why are Marathas demanding reservations? Marathas claim to be socially and economically backward, despite their political and military power in the past. They argue that they have been historically neglected in education and employment opportunities.
3. What is the current status of Maratha reservations? The Supreme Court has struck down laws providing reservations for Marathas in education and government jobs, citing a lack of empirical data.
4. What is the MNS's stance on reservations? The MNS supports reservations for economically backward communities, regardless of caste. However, it opposes reservations based solely on caste.
5. What is the future of Maratha reservations? The future of Maratha reservations remains uncertain. The state government is currently considering alternative measures to address the community's grievances.
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