Divisive decisions by Maharashtra govt

Two recent decisions taken by the Maharashtra government – one on reservations and the other on beef – are patently wrong and discriminatory, and badly exposes its divisive politics. The BJP-Shiv Sena government, which came to power after last year’s elections, took these decisions with an obvious communal intent. It extended reservation in education and employment to the Maratha community and denied it for the Muslims. By another decision, it has extended the ban on cow slaughter, which already exists in the state, to bulls and bullocks. Governments do try to justify even their wrong decisions with statements of good intent or legal and technical arguments. The Maharashtra government did not have convincing reasons for both its decisions. It is also clear that the government did not care about their impact and repercussions.

The previous Congress-NCP government had announced 16 per cent reservation in education and employment for the Maratha community and 5 per cent for the Muslims. This was effected through an ordinance. It was a pre-election sop intended to please both the communities. The Maratha community is not backward by any yardstick and does not deserve reservations. The court struck down the decision in respect of the Marathas but allowed reservation for the Muslims in education. The new government has allowed the ordinance to lapse and denied the benefit of reservation to Muslims. But it brought forward a bill in the Assembly providing for reservation for the Maratha community and got it passed. It is certain to be struck down again by the court. But the government will be happy that it will be seen as its benefactor by the Maratha community. Perhaps, it also wants to be seen as having taken a decision which denied a benefit to Muslims. That may be why it gave not even a proper reason but a most unconvincing excuse for it.

The ban on all beef has become very draconian with the government getting the President’s assent for a bill which was passed by the Assembly about two decades ago. It provides for five years’ jail and a heavy fine for even eating or possessing beef. Ban on beef is an old Hindutva demand, though there is no historical support for the claim that beef was taboo to Hindus. Many Hindus eat it and it is cheaper than other kinds of meat. Governments have no right to interfere with the food habits of people. Rearing cows also might become unviable because it will be difficult to dispose of bulls and bullocks. The decision is bound to have serious social and economic consequences.