Prakash Ambedkar attacks Fadnavis over Maratha quota

Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar on Friday accused the BJP and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of playing politics over the Maratha reservation issue.

Earlier in the day, Fadnavis announced that the state government would allot 16 percent of the 72,000 posts it is going to fill to the Maratha candidates in the form of backlog if the Bombay High Court allows quota for the community.

Addressing a rally here, Ambedkar, who heads Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh, hit out at the RSS for "reintroducing" Manismriti--the ancient Hindu law book--to divide the society.

He said the RSS didn't believe in equality.

"When did RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat garland the statue of Mahatma Phule (the social reformer of the 19th Century)? Bhagwat didn't glorify Phule because the latter had discarded Manusmiriti and fought against it," he said.

Ambedkar, the grandson of B R Ambedkar, also accused the RSS of trying to change the Constitution of the country.

"The RSS has adopted a dubious policy. On one hand, they hate Muslims and on the other, they invite Muslims for iftaar party," he said.

Later addressing a press conference, Ambedkar said an alliance comprising secular-minded and backward class parties has been formed.

"The alliance has given a proposal to the Congress saying it wanted to contest 12 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. However, no response has come from the Congress," he said.

Responding to a query on the Maratha quota, he said the chief minister should desist from making such controversial statement as the quota issue is sub-judice.

"The BJP is not serious of giving reservation to the Marathas. The elitists Marathas are responsible for the plight of their community," he said.

Ambedkar said the Congress did not choose the proper time to present the no-confidence motion against the BJP government in Parliament, as the party is not in a position to take on the BJP.