Mayawati slams Maharashtra govt over 'hurry' to grant reservation to Maratha community, accuses BJP of favouritism

Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati launched a scathing attack on BJP over its “hurriedness” to give reservation to Maratha community in Maharashtra, while accusing the party of not being ‘interested’ in the welfare of people other castes. [caption id=“attachment_5138241” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of BSP chief Mayawati. PTI[/caption] “Along with giving reservations on the basis of economic status by central and state governments run by the BJP, there was this swiftness shown to provide the benefit of OBC reservation to Maratha community in Maharashtra. Only if such interest was shown to hire people from Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) for the vacant positions, then it would have benefitted them a lot,” Mayawati said during a review meeting of the party officials. She also demanded that quantum of reservation for the reserved class be increased in proportion to their population. “The way various states are increasing reservation limits beyond 50 percent, it is natural that demand to increase the reservation quota for SCs and OBCs gets louder,” she said. According to the statement by the party, the BSP leader also lamented the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.