Faced with criticism by industry sector over Maharashtra government's legislation allowing 52 per cent reservation in private enterprises, the Congress-led Democratic Front government on Friday said it would "listen to grievances of the captains of industry" before its actual implementation.
"Many in the industry are writing to the government and even the Confederation of Indian Industry has communicated its reservations to us," Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters in an informal chat at Vidhan Bhavan on the last day of the on-going budget session of the state legislature.
Shinde, replying to a query on the legislation, however, remained non-committal over its actual implementation, allowing reservations to scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes in the private sector.
Asked whether the legislation would be implemented before the state assembly elections, Shinde said: "It is difficult to comment on it."
But the government would listen to the grievances of the industry before actual framing of the rules, he said.
He also evaded a query on whether his government would review the legislation.
Shinde said he would be meeting representatives of the CII soon to deliberate over the issue.
The chief minister replied in the negative when asked whether the government feared public agitation over the legislation.
Shinde also exuded confidence that Congress would storm back to power in the state.
"I am confident that my party is going to win the coming elections in view of the DF government's performance."
The chief minister, however, admitted that his party was aware of the anti-incumbency factor. "We have not been able to publicise many welfare decisions taken by our government."
The packages announced for various backward regions, the government's work in providing relief to drought-affected areas, removing backlog of backward class in government services, various schemes for school students, water conservation and water supply schemes were some of the major achievements of his government, Shinde added.
He favoured coming together of all secular forces for the impending assembly polls.
"It is for the Election Commission to decide the date of polls," he said.
On the party nominees for the state council polls, he said the party has given representation to younger generation.
