Don’t just apologise to marginalised sections: Pawar’s swipe at Bhagwat

Nagpur: NCP president Sharad Pawar on Saturday took a dig at RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat stating that just apologising to the marginalised sections of society which faced social discrimination over the years would not be enough and “his words should transcend beyond mere lip service”.
Speaking at a book launch function here on Friday, Bhagwat had apologised for untouchability and social inequality suffered by a section of society for generations during pre and post-independence era. He called on to banish all things that create inequality and discrimination in society.
“Everything that causes discrimination should go out lock, stock and barrel. The concepts like Varna and Jaati (caste) should be completely discarded, as the caste system has no relevance now. We should not hesitate to accept and apologise for the mistakes committed by our ancestors. Ancestors of all sections of society had made mistakes,” Bhagwat had said.
After his arrival at the airport here on Saturday, Pawar said whatever Bhagwat said about discrimination and untouchability would depend on how people treat the marginalised sections in reality. “A big section of society suffered oppression spanning many generations. It is good that those responsible for it have begun to realise innumerable sufferings faced by members of those communities, and this is the right change,” he said.
“Only apologising, however, will not work. Everything depends on how we actually behave with these sections of society in today’s context,” the NCP chief said while endorsing Bhagwat’s call for junking the caste system.
Pawar, however, refused to comment on the face-off between Shiv Sena factions led by former chief minister Uddhav Thackray and his predecessor Eknath Shinde over the ‘bow and arrow’ symbol. “I have no reason to say anything about it. The Election Commission will take a final call in this regard and political parties would have to accept that.”
Talking on the Shinde government’s decision to reinstate ST employees who were suspended for protesting in front of his home during their strike, Pawar said only the government can talk about it.
Later speaking at the 50th golden jubilee session of Bhatkya Vimukt Jamati Sanghatan at Suresh Bhat hall, the veteran politician said that in 1952 the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had freed vagrants confined behind wire fences in Solapur after seeing their plight.
“There is emancipation but injustice, oppression and exploitation continues. To change this situation, the organisation needs to be strengthened. Acquiring knowledge is the only path to end this. Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and in recent years Dr Panjabrao Deshnukh and Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil have opened the doors of education for future generations by going against the tide,” he said while appealing to all sections of society to live in harmony.