Mumbai, Aug 16: NCP supremo Sharad Pawar on Monday fired verbal salvoes at the Centre as he reacted to the latter’s amendments to the OBC reservation.
Addressing a press conference at the party office here, he said, ‘Two years ago, the central government stripped the state of its powers. Now, the parliament has amended the constitution to give states the right to make OBC lists. Therefore, many felt that the Center had taken an important step, but it was a pure fraud.’
He continued, ‘In 1992, a nine-judge bench passed a landmark judgment in the case of Indra Sawhney against the Government of India. It was decided that no more than 50 per cent reservation can be given.’
‘In the meantime, another amendment was made to increase it by 10 per cent. The state governments were told that they could make reservations and give reservations to OBCs. But in reality, it will not be of any use. Today, almost 90 per cent of the states in the country have more than 50 per cent reservation,’ he explained.
He further said, ‘In almost all the states, the limit has been exceeded by 50 per cent. There is no fact when its said that the states have been empowered. The central government has betrayed the OBC class.’
