Pune (Maharashtra): Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister (NCP) Ajit Pawar on Monday said that there is a three-party government in the state, hence he will put forward the issue of Muslim reservation before Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
In a press conference in Pune, he said, “Earlier when reservation was given, the court had allowed reservation in education but not in employment. This is a government of three parties. Therefore, we will put this issue before the CM and Deputy CM, and try to find a solution in this regard.”
In 2014, the Congress-NCP coalition government had given 5 percent reservation to the Muslim community in education and government jobs on the basis of their backwardness. However, this reservation was not implemented by subsequent governments.
He said that if necessary, he will talk to the leadership of the high command to take a decision on this.
Pawar further said that he informed about the meeting with the Minority Department and some officials of the Waqf Board also discussed the lands of Maulana Azad Board and Waqf Board.
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He said, “As the Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister of the state, I held a meeting with the Minority Affairs Department, in which Rural Development Minister Hasan Mushrif, Minister of State for Rural Development Abdul Sattar and some officials regarding the lands of Maulana Azad Board and Waqf Board were present. Were present for discussion.”
On the Election Commission’s hearing regarding NCP’s election symbol, Ajit Pawar said that he will accept the final decision.
He said, “The Election Commission will give the final decision…After this, when the date is given, people from both sides will appear before the Election Commission…I will accept whatever final decision is taken after this.”
Amidst the feud between the two factions of the party, Ajit Pawar had approached the Election Commission in early July, staking his claim on the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the party’s election symbol.
On Thursday, the Election Commission wrote a letter to both the factions of the party and admitted that there is a rift in the party. The Commission has fixed October 6 for the first hearing on the dispute.
In July, the Commission had issued a show cause notice to the Sharad Pawar-led NCP group on a petition filed by Ajit Pawar’s faction. The petition claims that Ajit Pawar should be declared the president of NCP.
According to Prafulla Marpakwar’s report, the clock symbol has been allotted to the party as per the provisions of the Election Symbols Order, 1968.
Ajit Pawar had filed a petition before the Election Commission on June 30, when he took oath as Deputy Chief Minister on July 2, his notice reached the Election Commission’s office on July 5.
In support of his claims, Ajit Pawar had submitted a petition along with MPs, MLAs and MLCs.
When asked about becoming CM, he denied it and said that there is no truth in this news. He said, “I only think about development.”
Also read: ‘Bhagte Bhoot ki Langoti Bhali’, welcome women’s reservation by thinking that you will probably get it in 2039.
