Former industries minister Narayan Rane blamed the government for lack of political will in handling the Maratha reservation case. Since the minority BJP government took over the reins, it was not serious about contesting the case; as a result, the Bombay high court stayed reservation for Marathas despite the fact that the previous government's decision was based on a strong legal footing, he said. In an interview with TOI, Rane (62) spoke on the BJP government's "non-serious approach" and Congress's future course of action.
Was the case for reservation weak?
In my opinion, the government's handling of the case was inept. The BJP government lacked political will to fight the case and our team of lawyers was very weak.
Is it a fact that BJP was not serious about providing reservation for Marathas?
I have reasons to believe that BJP was never serious about providing reservation to Marathas and Muslims. If we look at BJP and Shiv Sena leaders' statements when the previous government took a policy decision to provide reservations, they were very guarded. They never openly supported our demand for reservation.
You were chairman of the committee set up to examine reservation for Marathas. Was your homework adequate?
I was chairman of the high-level committee to study a proposal for providing reservation for Marathas. We mobilized information on nearly five lakh Maratha families across the state. We studied their economic and educational status. We involved the entire revenue machinery to gather information. We were told that the Marathas were indeed backward in the field of education and jobs. In addition, we studied the Constitutional provision on reservation and the committee felt that if Marathas are to be brought into the mainstream, they must be provided reservation.
Was there violation of the Constitution while providing reservation?
In my opinion, there was no violation of the Constitution while drafting the proposal for providing reservation for Marathas.
Was there a delay in implementation of the report?
It's a fact that while I submitted the report long back, the state government failed to take a decision on the recommendations. It did accept the report, but there was a prolonged delay.
Congress did not benefit in assembly elections...
The decision to appoint a committee on providing reservations for Marathas was apolitical. It was purely for ensuring that the Maratha community remains in the mainstream of public life and gets adequate representation in education and jobs.
What's the future course of action?
Irrespective of the fact whether the state government moves the apex court or otherwise, Congress will challenge the high court order before the Supreme Court. We will engage the best of lawyers in court to represent our case.
Was the case for reservation weak?
In my opinion, the government's handling of the case was inept. The BJP government lacked political will to fight the case and our team of lawyers was very weak.
Is it a fact that BJP was not serious about providing reservation for Marathas?
I have reasons to believe that BJP was never serious about providing reservation to Marathas and Muslims. If we look at BJP and Shiv Sena leaders' statements when the previous government took a policy decision to provide reservations, they were very guarded. They never openly supported our demand for reservation.
You were chairman of the committee set up to examine reservation for Marathas. Was your homework adequate?
I was chairman of the high-level committee to study a proposal for providing reservation for Marathas. We mobilized information on nearly five lakh Maratha families across the state. We studied their economic and educational status. We involved the entire revenue machinery to gather information. We were told that the Marathas were indeed backward in the field of education and jobs. In addition, we studied the Constitutional provision on reservation and the committee felt that if Marathas are to be brought into the mainstream, they must be provided reservation.
Was there violation of the Constitution while providing reservation?
In my opinion, there was no violation of the Constitution while drafting the proposal for providing reservation for Marathas.
Was there a delay in implementation of the report?
It's a fact that while I submitted the report long back, the state government failed to take a decision on the recommendations. It did accept the report, but there was a prolonged delay.
Congress did not benefit in assembly elections...
The decision to appoint a committee on providing reservations for Marathas was apolitical. It was purely for ensuring that the Maratha community remains in the mainstream of public life and gets adequate representation in education and jobs.
What's the future course of action?
Irrespective of the fact whether the state government moves the apex court or otherwise, Congress will challenge the high court order before the Supreme Court. We will engage the best of lawyers in court to represent our case.
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