Pune: “The State government is not at all serious about providing reservation for the Maratha community. If they were, they would not have had appointed a pro-Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) institution to survey Maratha community. They should give an explanation to this,” demanded Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in Pune on Tuesday.
Vikhe Patil was addressing a press conference at Congress House. Vikhe Patil criticised Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government’s decisions.
“There are prominent institutions in the state such as Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Gokhale Institute etc. But, the State government has given the contract to a RSS affiliated institution, the members of this institution have shown their opposition to giving reservation for Marathas.
“The government has given this work to Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini and Nagpur-based Sharadha to carry out this survey for Vidarbha region,” he said.
He added that the government is in the process to find an agency for Nashik region.
Vikhe Patil questioned the government’s decision to appoint an agency linked with a specific ideology. He added, “The government is making fun of Marathas’ demand of reservation.”
He said, “I am not surprised if the State government conducts a cabinet meeting in a RSS unit and assembly session in Reshim Baug (RSS headquarters). These institutes have photographs of Hedgewar and Golwalkar Guruji and not of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Shivaji Maharaj”.
On the Shivshrushti issue, he said, “We oppose Babasaheb Purandare’s private Shivshrushti project. The government has given Rs 300 crore to them.
“We object the claim of referring to Purandare as a historian.
“The government should have formed a committee of historians for setting up Shivshrushtis in Pune so that there will be a unique project.”
