Ajit Pawar, the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, demanded on Monday that the state conduct a caste census to determine the precise number of people living in each community.
At a public gathering in the Solapur area, he made the declaration.
“I am of the opinion let there be a caste-based census here,” Pawar said. “The Bihar government carried it out in that state. With such an exercise, we will come to know the exact population of OBCs, SCs, STs, minorities, general category etc as benefits are given as per proportion of population.”
The leader of the Nationalist Congress Party stated that even if it costs "some thousand crores," Maharashtra must conduct the exercise.
Pawar continued, saying that he had inquired about specifics on the caste survey that had been conducted in Bihar, together with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
According to ABP Majha, Fadnavis stated that the government has never objected to a caste survey and that the methodology for the project was the sole area of concern, the Scroll.in reported.
“We have to ensure that the kind of difficulties that came up in Bihar do not arise here,” he said.
Earlier this month, the results of the January-launched Bihar survey were made public. It was discovered that more than 63% of the state's population belongs to the Other Backward Classes and the Extremely Backward Classes. The Extremely Backward Classes made up 36% of Bihar's total population of slightly over 13.07 crore, making them the largest social sector. Other Backward Classes came in second at 27.13%.
Pawar added on Monday that the state administration is committed to guaranteeing reservations for Marathas.
“Our efforts are to ensure quota provided above the 62% at present is legally sustainable in the High Court and Supreme Court,” said Pawar.
According to him, OBCs have filed memorandums requesting that no other group be included in the category, while Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil has demanded Kunbi caste certificates for the Marathas.
On Sunday, Jarange-Patil declared that if the Maharashtra government did not give the Marathas reservation, he would begin a fast unto death on October 25.