Sharad Pawar asks Maharashtra government to pursue Dhangar quota issue with Centre

MUMBAI: NCP president Sharad Pawar today asked Maharashtra government to take up with the Modi government the issue of granting facilities of Scheduled Tribes (ST) to the Dhangar community in the state.

"Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram last week sent me a letter saying the consent of the state government was needed and that's why the permission (to grant facilities of STs to the Dhangar community) was not given," Pawar, who concluded his three-day tour of drought-hit areas in Marathwada today, told reporters at Osmanabad.

"When an agitation on this issue was organised, the present Chief Minister had announced at Baramati that they will take a decision on the issue within a week of coming to power," Pawar said.

"Now, they have come to power. They should once again put forth their views on this matter before the Central Government," he said.

Oram, in his letter has said the Maharashtra government did not support the proposal for granting facilities of STs to the Dhangar community in the state.

The Centre has laid down the modalities for determining claims for inclusion in, exclusion from, and other modifications in the orders specifying lists for STs.

"As per the above modalities, the proposal for inclusion of Dhangars was referred to Maharashtra government for comments. The government has not supported the proposal. You will appreciate that in accordance with the modalities, recommendation of the state government is prerequisite to proceed further in the matter," Oram informed Pawar in the letter.

Oram's letter was in response to Pawar's letter of November 8 last year regarding granting facilities of STs to the Dhangar community in Maharashtra.