Shivangi Prakash-
Under pressure from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and in light of the federal government’s lack of cooperation, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government has chosen to conduct its own demographic survey of the OBC community in order to ensure political reservations for the group.
Following the Supreme Court’s judgement cancelling political reservations for OBCs in local body elections, Maharashtra has seen massive demonstrations.
The state government has also decided to seek the Supreme Court for a review.
Meanwhile, it requested empirical data from the federal government in order to create legislation requiring OBC reservations in local government elections, but the Centre did not respond.
In a letter to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray stated that he had raised the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expected cooperation.
The governor was also asked by the CM to pursue the subject with the central government so that they could address it together.
Sources claimed the state government has issued an order requesting the State Backward Commission to undertake a survey to collect data on the OBC population while it continues to seek cooperation from the Centre on population figures.
“The order did not mention the time-frame to collect the data. However, due to the pandemic situation, it will take at least four-five months,” said a government source.
OBC leaders demanded that till this issue is sorted out, local body elections should not be held in the state.
Hari Narake, a social activist, stated that the central government performed a social and economic study in 2011 and has the empirical data, but it is not sharing it with the states.
“This is very unfortunate. This will deprive the OBC community of their rights,” he added.
“It is good that the Maharashtra government has decided to collect the data to ensure reservations to OBCs,” said activist Hari Narake, slamming the Centre for not providing empirical data to the state.