Mumbai: Pawar Calls for All-Party Meeting on Maratha Reservation

In a significant development regarding the Maratha reservation issue, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar faced activists in Barshi, Solapur, who demanded clarity on his stance. Following this encounter, Pawar convened a press conference on Monday, advocating for an all-party meeting to address the contentious topic of Maratha reservation. He emphasized the importance of including key figures such as Manoj Jarange and representatives from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) in the discussions. Pawar underscored the necessity for a balanced social environment in Maharashtra, urging all parties to work collaboratively to prevent community tensions. He expressed his commitment to ensuring that opposition parties support the government during these discussions, highlighting the need for proactive measures to avert future conflicts. His discussions with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde included a proposal for the latter to organize the all-party meeting, inviting relevant stakeholders to foster a cooperative dialogue. However, Pawar pointed out a significant legal hurdle: the judiciary's ruling that reservations cannot exceed 50%. He called for a collective effort from all Maharashtra residents to advocate for changes at the central government level. Drawing parallels with Tamil Nadu, which previously implemented higher reservation percentages upheld by the courts, Pawar noted that any amendment to the current policy would require central government intervention. He assured stakeholders in Maharashtra of their full cooperation should the central government take steps to address the reservation limits.