MUMBAI: Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday called for a caste-wise census. The state government is drafting a plan to provide political reservation for OBCs but there is no information on the exact number of castes.
A month ago, NCP chief Sharad Pawar had demanded a caste-based census. After Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Sharad Pawar was the second politician to support the demand.
"As per records, population of Maharashtra is 12 crore. However, if we count on the basis of caste, then it will cross the mark of 40 crore. But that data is wrong, therefore, we must press for caste-based census," Pawar said.
Pawar told an NCP activists' meet his government was committed to ensuring reservation for OBCs in civic organisations. "We are bound by the Supreme Court verdict. Our plea is that the situation in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh is similar. In MP, the apex court has accepted the plan for OBC reservation. We feel that like MP, reservation for OBCs should be granted so that there is no political injustice," Pawar said. Prafulla Marpakwar
