NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar.
Credit: PTI Photo
Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (SP) president Sharad Pawar expressed concern that Maharashtra could witness Manipur-like situation.
The statement of Pawar that Maharashtra could face Manipur-like disturbances - in the backdrop of the reservation row - snowballed into a political issue.
The ruling BJP hit out at the veteran politician saying that people would give him an answer in the forthcoming Maharashtra Legislative Assembly polls.
"For our country to develop and strengthen its economy, social unity is essential. The current situation of tension and division is alarming. The growing discord in the country requires unity beyond caste, religion and language,” Pawar said addressing a Social Unity Conference on Sunday evening.
According to Pawar, it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that there is social unity.
Pawar’s statement assumes significance in Maharashtra in the wake of the demand for Maratha reservation under the Kunbi category and the resistance from OBC who feel that it would dilute their existing quota.
The impact of the reservation issue was felt in the Lok Sabha election and it is also set to dominate the Vidhan Sabha polls.
Reacting to Pawar’s comments, state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said: "Pawar said that there would be violence, communal riots in Maharashtra. I feel that a leader, who did politics for 40 years, should not defame the state. Devendra Fadnavis is capable of controlling any situation. Pawar is defaming the state for politics. I urge him to not stoop to this level. People will answer him in the upcoming elections."