Maratha protests: Pawar, Fadnavis in war of words

MUMBAI: While the Maratha community protests gain momentum in the state, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) engaged in a blame

MUMBAI: While the Maratha community protests gain momentum in the state, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) engaged in a blame game, accusing each other of apathy.

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NCP chief Sharad Pawar — seen as a Maratha strongman — said in an interview to Marathi news channel ABP Majha on Saturday that the BJP government had failed miserably to live up to the expectations of the people, and as a result, people had come out in open to express their anger. He also clarified that he had no role to play in the protests.

Pawar’s statement came after chief minister Devendra Fadnavis told Sahyadri channel on Friday that the issue was being politicised and some political parties were trying to instigate the protestors.

The NCP chief said youths are angry as the government has failed to provide them any relief.

“Marathwada region had faced severe drought, resulting in damage to crops. They have also faced floods, which too led to crop-damage. So naturally there was anger among them, as despite repeated demands, the state government didn’t waive off crop loans. They have lost faith in the ruling regime,” said Pawar.

The former Union minister said he had waived off crop loans during his tenure as agriculture minister in the UPA rule in 2008. Fadnavis has held the Congress-NCP government responsible for the resentment in the Maratha community. “We have come to power only two years ago. Those who were ruling before us have ignored the community completely.

Majority of the members from the community come from a poor background. The youth wants development and this anger is against them,” Fadnavis had said, pointing a finger towards the previous government, which ruled the state for 15 years until 2014.

Political observers said the Maratha protests have made all political parties wary, as the state will witness quite a few local body elections in the coming months.

While the Fadnavis government is worried of being painted as an anti-Maratha party, Congress-NCP politicians are not sure of the impact of the protests and its repercussions during the polls.

Over the past month, the Maratha community has started a series of silent protests across the state, especially in Marathwada. The protests were triggered after the brutal gang-rape and murder of a minor from the community. What makes the situation even more complicated is that the three accused in the case are Dalits.