Photo : Sharad Pawar/ X

By Sunita 

Pune: Ch. Sambhajinagar: Senior politician and NCP (SP) President Sharad Pawar has said that a dialogue between the State Government and the people is missing today. Therefore, there is bitterness between communities over the Maratha quota issue.

He was speaking to the media in Aurangabad today.

Pawar admitted that he made the same mistake three decades ago over the renaming of the Marathwada University. He said, “I decided to rename the university after discussing the issue with the legislators, which had adverse repercussions in Marathwada. The poor people suffered. I realised my mistake. I made the decision in Mumbai.

“I did not hold a dialogue with a section of people who were against the decision. Then I suspended all my engagements and visited almost all colleges in Marathwada. I spoke to students, had a positive dialogue with them. Later, they consented our decision and agreed to accept it. Today, the reservation issue is burning in Marathwada. A dialogue needs to be initiated with the young generation. We will positively do this.”

Commenting on the current scenario in the government, Pawar said, “Maratha quota leader Manoj Jarange Patil has also propagated reservations for the Lingayats, the Muslims and the Dhangars. His stance is likely to lessen the divide between the communities. It is a positive sign that the chief minister and his colleagues are in touch with Jarange. However, some ministers in the state government are also in touch with Jarange’s opponents, which is creating an atmosphere of suspicion. The government should take all communities in confidence. The CM speaks with Jarange while he asks Bhujbal to speak to the OBCs leaders. Some people are kept out of the loop. This unnecessarily causes misunderstandings.”

Advising the state government to hold a dialogue, the senior politician said, “The government should hold a collective discussion with the Maratha quota leaders and the OBCs leaders such as Hake and his colleagues. If they need our help, we will also join the discussions. A collective dialogue will lead to social harmony in the State.”