Mumbai: The State Secretariat in Mumbai witnessed unprecedented scenes on Friday when Maharashtra Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal and several tribal MLAs jumped off the third floor of Mantralaya building and landed on the safety nets. According to reports, they were protesting against the Dhangar community getting reservations in the ST category.
Several visuals of the tribal leaders being rescued from the safety nets after the jump have surfaced on the internet. The NCP MLA and other leaders can be seen fallen on the safety nets of the building while the authorities can be seen making attempts to reach them and bring them to safety.
Today’s Rate
Thursday 03 Oct. 2024
Recently, as the Maharashtra Government prepared to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Dhangar community ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, Zirwal, a senior tribal MLA representing the Dindori Assembly segment, expressed his dissatisfaction with the state’s approach to the issue.
He had announced his plan to stage an indefinite sit-in protest outside Mantralaya, the administrative headquarters, starting September 30. His protest aimed at highlighting the government’s lack of response to concerns raised by tribal MLAs.
According to a media report, Zirwal’s letter to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde outlines two key demands: The reinstatement of the appointment process for Scheduled Tribe candidates under the PESA (Provisions of the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act and a call to refrain from making unconstitutional decisions about the inclusion of Dhangars in the ST list.
Zirwal also called for the release of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) report on Dhangar reservation, which has been a focal point in the debate surrounding the community’s ST status.
The Dhangar community, which currently holds Other Backward Classes (OBC) status, argues that the Dhangad tribe listed under the ST category is identical to the Dhangars, and that a “spelling error” has unjustly excluded them from ST benefits. Despite these claims, both the Supreme Court and the Bombay High Court have rejected petitions from the community. Dhangars, largely concentrated in western Maharashtra, wield influence over 25-30 Assembly seats, making the issue a politically significant one.
Two weeks ago, Chief Minister Shinde met with Dhangar leaders and assured them that their concerns would be addressed without harming the interests of other communities. Minister Shambhuraj Desai hinted at a government resolution to grant ST status to the Dhangars, further fuelling unrest among tribal groups. In response, tribal leaders held a meeting in Mumbai, escalating their opposition to the potential move.
The Dhangar community in the State is currently in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category and some of its members have been agitating in Pandharpur in Solapur district demanding their inclusion in the ST category. The demonstrators have claimed that their community is the same as the Dhangads which are listed as Scheduled Tribes in several states.
Following the fierce protests, police intervened and removed the protesting lawmakers from the net. The situation remained tense as discussions on the controversial issue of Scheduled Tribes reservation and inclusion of the Dhangar community continued.
