Maratha reservation demand out of frustration, says ex-MP Nagendra Nath Ojha

AURANGABAD: Terming the current plea for reservation by Maratha community as a demand out of frustration, former MP and senior leftist leader Nagendra Nath Ojha on Sunday linked the demand with the agrarian crisis.
Drawing parallel between the demand for reservation from Maratha community and that of Jats from Haryana and Patels for Gujarat, he said that any fresh reservation should be introduced only on the basis of economic conditions, irrespective of the caste.
"The demand for reservation is being made out of frustration. It can be linked with the agrarian crisis. We have sympathies with those who are agitating, but any fresh reservation must be given on the basis of economic conditions," he said.
Speaking with media after concluding of two-day national level meeting of Bharatiya Khet Mazdoor Union (BKMU), a trade union of agricultural labourers in India, Ojha struck down the demand for amendments to the Atrocities Act.
"We want amendment in the Atrocities Act, but only to strengthen it. Getting bail even after being booked under the Atrocities Act has become very easy. Cases filed under Atrocities Act have been piling up without reaching any logical end. Amendments needed in Atrocities Act only to do away such gaps," he said.
Reacting to allegations levelled by Maratha community that Atrocities Act is being misused, Ojha said there may be sporadic cases. "If such complaints are reported, then the respective government machinery is to be blamed and not the law itself," he said.
He also announced country-wide rallies between November 8 and December 5 to press the demand for channelizing unspent funds worth Rs 2.8 lakh crores meant for welfare of members of SC and ST community.
Listing out some of the key demands discussed during two-day national level meet of BKMU, Ojha said scope of MNREGA should be broadened by the Centre without wasting time. "The employment guarantee scheme should ensure work of minimum 200 days. The daily wage should be increased upto Rs 400 to make the scheme more effective," he said.
The leftist leader also demanded effective housing scheme for agricultural labours and poor. The government should either give sum of Rs 5 lakh or land admeasuring 3 Gunthas (over 300 square-meter) as a part of housing scheme. Such concrete help offered through official scheme would ensure shelter for poor and needy, Ojha said.
Pension scheme for agricultural labours, land to landless labours and clubbing of all welfare schemes for unorganised sector labours under one legislation were some of the key demands the left meet discussed.
Manohar Taksal, Shivkumar Ganvir, Rajan Kshirsagar, Namdev Chavan, Ram Baheti and Buddhhapriya Kabir were some other left party leaders present for the national-level meet.