Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Do justice to economically backward in upper classes' that was published in Newsband

Do justice to economically backward in upper classes

The series of rallies in the name of Maharashtra’s numerically dominant Marathas is owing to the rape and killing of a 14-year-old girl in Ahmednagar district. All the three accused so far in the case are Dalits. Marathas demand for reservations under the Other Backward Classes category and for scrapping or amendment of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities or POA) Act of 1989.

The demand for inclusion in the OBC quota is because of relative economic backwardness among a large cross-section of Marathas and their inability to move up the economic ladder. Marathas are a dominant caste and play a central role in electoral politics as well as the political economy of the State. The Bombay High Court had stayed an order by the previous Congress-NCP government for 16 per cent reservations for Marathas in educational institutions and jobs over and above the almost 50 per cent quota for SC/STs and OBCs put together. The Devendra Fadnavis-led government should address the State’s agrarian distress and need for more job creation, instead of expanding reservations,

Marathas are demanding amendment of PoAA to avoid misuse. Though the clan is politically dominant, gross negligence of Agri sector, rampant corruption in Cop movement has deep impact on majority of farmers. Further divisions of land has made it unviable. It is not against any community or caste. People are voicing their concerns and that also in peaceful way. Even rally route is cleaned at the end.

The government should take care of the demands of Marathas. What was impressive was that all such Morchas were silent and peaceful. The organisers set an example for the others who indulge in slogan-shouting and vandalizing public property.

Today a general category person has to struggle a lot to beat the competition in fighting for few unreserved seats. This reservation politics will only keep the most deserved person away from their rightful share and may even force them to move out of India to pursue better prospects

There are instances where some 'upper- caste' girls have been humiliated or atrocities committed on them. Such instances should be investigated and the guilty punished. Many false atrocities cases have been filed. False atrocity cases are filed against the poor "upper class" by the rich "low class". And again some rich "high class" actually carry out atrocities on poor dalits. One common thing in both the cases are the "rich" getting away. No community is good, no community is bad. It’s the individuals.

The key reasons for this stir is the agrarian distress and unemployment at the all levels and it is painful for the economically backward in the upper classes and they seek agitation mode for reservations.