Dhangar quota will be my priority if elected: Vikas Mahatme

“The previous government had told the Centre that Dhangar and Dhangad were two different communities. My study on the matter is complete and the two communities are actually the same. The CM told me that he had been kept in the dark about the last government’s move. He said he needs time to grant the reservation so that they can plug all holes and make it stand legal scrutiny. So, he has sought a report from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) on the subject. It will then be sent to the Centre. I will also pursue the matter at Delhi,” Mahatme said.

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Asked if he has sought a time limit on the granting of the demand and what would be his next step if the deadline is not met, Mahatme said, “The government has sought 12-15 months. My organisation Dhangar Samaj Sangharsh Samiti would not hesitate to relaunch the stir for the demand.”

Mahatme pointed out that if elected, he would be the first representative of the 1.20 crore-strong Dhangar community in the Parliament.

“For 68 years, nobody from the community could make it to the Parliament, which clearly shows how we have lagged behind.”

Mahatme also said that the other prominent community leader from the state, Mahadevrao Jankar of Rashtriya Samaj, was on the same page with him. “Jankar was there with me at the time of filing of nomination,” he said.

Asked if the RSS had pushed his name, Mahatme, an ophthalmologist engaged in many socially-oriented medical programmes, said, “We have been working with the RSS in the field of healthcare. So, they won’t be averse to my candidature.”

On the question of Vidarbha statehood, Mahatme said, “It must be created.”

Referring to a newspaper report that the Justice Bhatta Commission probing the irregular surplus land allotments under the Urban Land Ceiling Act had made adverse remarks about a plot allotted to his hospital, Mahatme said, “In fact, the Commission said that mine was the only entity that had done good work. We don’t get any government grant and we strain our funds for social health care. I want to take this model to others, who feel doing free healthcare is impossible without charity.”