Seeking to maintain a separate identity for his party even while in the BJP-led saffron alliance Government, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray said on Thursday that whenever and wherever injustice was done to farmers and needy people, his party would not be with Devendra Fadnavis dispensation but would crusade for the cause of the affected people.
Addressing a party workers’ rally at Pachora in Jalgaon district of north Maharashtra, Uddhav said that his party’s critics might wonder whether the Sena was in the Opposition or the State Government, but the fact remained that his party would not compromise on the basic issues relating to the people. “We are not with a Government that is more interested in acquiring land from the farmers. We are with farmers wherever injustice is done to them. Similarly, we will not support the State Government when it does injustice to the common people,” Uddhav said.
Uddhav, who had during his Tuesday’s Dussehra rally rooted for reservations for the Economically Backward Classes (EBCs), took credit for the decision taken earlier in the day by the Maharashtra Government taken to reimburse education of EBC students having a family annual income less than Rs 6 lakh in management, agricultural and other vocational courses. “It is good that the State Government has accepted our demand for fee concessions to EBC students,” he said.
Alluding to the ongoing Maratha agitation seeking reservations in admissions and Government jobs for their community members, Uddhav said: “From late father Balasaheb’s time, the Shiv Sena has been rooting for reservations for the EBCs. Had the successive Governments heeded our advice, Marathas would not have faced the problem they are facing today. Agreed, if you (the Government) do not want to reservations on the economic criteria, then better announce caste based reservations. Then, set a timeline and announce reservations for Marathas,” he said.
Referring to NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the day, Uddhav said: “I am told Pawarsaheb raised Maratha reservations issue with the Prime Minister. My question to Pawarsaheb is; You were in power for such a long time at the Centre, what was holding you from taking up the issue of Maratha reservations with then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia GandhiIJ”. Uddhav also reiterated the Sena’s demand for convening a special session of the Maharashtra legislature to discuss the Maratha reservations issue.