NCP president, Sharad Pawar today took a sharp turn as far as the question of Maratha agitation for reservation is concerned. As per reports, he has stated that granting reservation is a constitutional process and therefore, the process of extending reservation to the Maratha community would need time. He also advised the Maratha agitators to keep this in mind and refrain from indulging in violence. He said, “Once an agitation is started, one must also know when to stop it. I congratulate (the agitators) for thinking of this. The agitation has brought the Maratha community’s strong sentiments to the fore. Constitutional procedures are needed to be completed for fulfilling the demand. For that appropriate period of time is necessary.” He further stated, “Also, it must be ensured that the industry in the state is not harmed due to the agitation. Such an agitation will put a stop to investment in industry and the problem of unemployment will worsen. Therefore, peace must be the top priority for Maratha agitators.”
This is a sharp departure on Pawar’s part on this contentious issue. Earlier, the Congress and the NCP as well had sought to put pressure on the government and force it into granting reservation to the agitated community. Both the parties met Governor Vidyasagar Rao and accused the government of dilly dallying on the issue of reservation for Marathas. Separate delegations of the two parties met the Maharashtra governor and asked him to instruct the chief minister of the state to announce reservation for Marathas, Muslims and Dhangars. NCP had then categorically asked the Maharashtra government to recommend a constitutional amendment that would allow a 16 per cent reservation to the Marathas. The NCP delegation was comprised of Ajit Pawar, leader of opposition Dhananjay Munde, former speaker Dilip Walse Patil and Chhagan Bhujbal. Therefore, the NCP tried to make full political use of the agitations and fielded all its bigwigs. It joined hands with the Congress in order to politicise the sensitive issue. Chavan had then said, “We have been told that the Backward Class Commission will take at least six months to complete the basic work, as a result, there will be further delay in providing reservation.” The NCP too had submitted a similar memorandum to the governor and Justice Gaikwad. The concerned NCP delegation not only asked the governor to direct the chief minister to provide 16% reservation to the Maratha community but also demanded that the existing statutory 52% reservation is not disturbed.
Today, Sharad Pawar is giving sermons to the Maratha community to maintain peace and not to indulge in violence but he has forgotten that it was the NCP along with the Congress themselves who fanned the flames of this agitation. Now, he is trying to distance himself from the entire agitation. Sharad Pawar has realised that his move of fanning divide among Marathas and other communities has brought him no political returns, in fact, it has turned out to be counterproductive. This has become evident after the BJP defeated the Congress and NCP in their strongholds during the recently concluded Municipal polls. Therefore, Sharad Pawar is now trying to distance himself from the Maratha agitation and the Congress. This is a classical example of a politician dredging a social divide and then washing his hands after realising that things have gone awry.