Video Editor: Sandeep Suman
On The Quint’s special show ‘Rajpath’, NCP President Sharad Pawar spoke exclusively to Editorial Director Sanjay Pugalia over the Maratha agitation days after widespread protests over demand for reservation took place in Maharashtra.
Pawar believes that the demand for reservation is not wrong but the protests must be peaceful and it is important to understand who actually needs reservation and who doesn’t.
How should we interpret the issue of Maratha reservation? The BJP would like to announce the reservation so that they can claim the credit for it. But the movement was started by the community. People outside Maharashtra are finding it hard to understand why a privileged community (like the Marathas) is demanding reservation?
People outside Maharashtra are not aware of the social hierarchy in the state. This is true that across various political parties there are quite a few influential Maratha leaders. But you need to see the complete picture. A serious problem in Maharashtra is farmer suicide. The highest number of farmer suicides are recorded in Vidarbha and Marathwada.
Pawar also added, “Approximately 50 percent of the farmers who commit suicide are Marathas. The farmers that have less than 2 acres of land – 28 percent of them are Maratha. Farmers that have land between 2-5 acres – 50 percent of them are Maratha.
Farmers that have up to 10 acres of land – 50 percent of them are Maratha. Out of these people, 60 percent don’t have guaranteed water for agriculture. They are dependent on rain for irrigation because of which poverty is prevailing in those areas. Many youngsters had to leave college. Some of the people committed suicide.”
‘I Don’t Oppose Maratha Quota’
The former Maharashtra chief minister further added that he is not against the demand for reservation of Marathas but the SC, ST and OBC communities, who are getting the reservation as per the Constitution should not be affected either.
Pawar said, “Even while giving reservation you should keep in mind the creamy layer. For example, the son of Sharad Pawar doesn’t need the reservation. So don’t give reservation to self-sufficient people. But a majority of the population that is poor must be given reservation.”
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