NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Thursday said he is still working at the age of 85 and has “no moral right” to weigh in on the debate over whether political leaders should step aside after turning 75.
To a question on whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi should stop (working in public life), as he has turned 75, like LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, Pawar told reporters that “people in the BJP now say they have never said that leaders after the age of 75 should take a backseat”.
“Where have I stopped? I am 85 and have no moral right to comment,” the NCP (SP) chief further said when asked about the age debate, a day after PM Modi turned 75.
The former Union minister also said the Maharashtra government should give more time to mitigate the hardships of farmers, who have been facing huge crop losses due to heavy rains.
Pawar stresses on social unity amid Gazette-driven demands by multiple communities
Earlier, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said that if every community bases its demands on the Hyderabad Gazette, unity among communities will be difficult to achieve, reported PTI.
Speaking to reporters in Pune on the sidelines of a governing council meeting at the Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Pawar questioned the state government`s decision to form two separate committees — one for Marathas and another for OBCs, reported PTI.
There should be no compromise on social unity, and if any political price needs to be paid, it should be paid, he asserted, reported PTI.
Various caste groups have contended that the implementation of the Hyderabad Gazette to allow members of the Maratha community to get OBC Kunbi caste certificates would greatly impact SCs, STs, and Other Backward Classes.
The Maharashtra government earlier this month set up a nine-member cabinet sub-committee to expedite the welfare measures for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and resolve issues related to reservation.
The move came after activist Manoj Jarange called off his five-day-long hunger strike in Mumbai, with the state government accepting most of his demands, including granting eligible Marathas Kunbi caste certificates, which will make them eligible for reservation benefits available to the OBCs.
A cabinet sub-committee on Marathas was formed in 2022 after the Supreme Court struck down a 2018 law granting quota to the community as unconstitutional, as the legislation breached the 50 per cent ceiling set by the apex court in 1992.
OBC leaders and organisations have been opposing the possible inclusion of Marathas in the OBC category for reservation purposes.
“Unfortunately, in the past few days, restlessness has been increasing in Marathwada among different communities, which is why I said the social fabric is weakening. Every day, new demands are being raised. Two days back, the Banjara community protested for inclusion in the ST category, while the next day Adivasis staged protests opposing such inclusion,” Pawar said, reported PTI.
(With inputs from PTI)
