The legislative council witnessed pandemonium, repeated adjournments and a token walkout by the NCP over the issue of reservation benefits to the Dhangar (Shepherd) community. The BJP had promised to provide to the community reservation benefits which are applicable to Scheduled Tribes.
The legislative council witnessed pandemonium, repeated adjournments and a token walkout by the NCP over the issue of reservation benefits to the Dhangar (Shepherd) community. The BJP had promised to provide to the community reservation benefits which are applicable to Scheduled Tribes.
Prakash Shendge, the community chief led a march at Azad Maidan to protest against apathy of the state in providing reservation benefits to the community.
Leader of opposition, Dhananjay Munde tried to bring the adjournment motion over this issue. He also alleged that the government had betrayed the community, despite the BJP and Shiv Sena along with Mahadev Jankar and coming to power by making such promises during the elections.
Munde requested the chair to keep aside all other business including question hour and take up the adjournment motion since this issue was of utmost importance for the state.
Soon after the House assembled for question hour, Munde raised this issue, after which the NCP's Ramrao Wadkute echoed his sentiments. Hailing from the community, Wadkute had sported Dhangar attire – a yellow turban and a blanket draped around his shoulders.
Other speakers included Ramhari Roopnavar of the Congress, Mahadev Jankar and Vinod Tawade of the BJP. Tawde requested that question hour be held, after which the quota issue could be addressed. However, the opposition did not concede.
Jankar, who is the founder of the Rashtriya Samaj Party has become an MLC on a BJP ticket. He pointed fingers at preceding governments for not giving reservation benefits to the community, which was met with slogans being shouted by the opposition. This led to the first adjournment, which lasted 20 minutes.
After the House resumed, Tatkare opposed Jankar's points, alleging that state Tribal Development Minister Vishnu Savara had categorically stated in Nagpur session that it was not possible to provide this reservation.
Tatkare questioned how the government could think positively on this when 'its own minister has stated against giving reservation benefits'.
Finance Minister Suhdir Mungantiwar retaliated by saying that the community had been 'betrayed for the past 65 years'. He also challenged Munde alleging that the opposition leader left the BJP for his 'personal ego'.
The House was again adjourned for 10 minutes and 15 minutes successively. The Opposition MLCs went in to the well of the house and shouted slogans of "Yelkot Yelkot, Jai Malhaar" (Praise of Lord Khandoba).
When the chairman, Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar gave his ruling that a separate discussion could be kept on the topic, NCP staged a walkout in protest.
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