"Has To Be For People Who Need It": Supriya Sule To NDTV On Reservation

Supriya Sule emphasized that reservation should be allocated based on genuine necessity during her recent address.

Mumbai:

Following recent Maratha quota protests in Maharashtra, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MP Supriya Sule stated on Saturday that reservation policies should exclusively benefit those who genuinely require such support.

"Reservation must target individuals with actual need. It would be inappropriate for me to seek reservation when my family has educational privileges across generations. I would feel ashamed to apply for it. This system exists for those lacking educational opportunities. If my child attends a prestigious Mumbai institution, there might be a more talented student in somewhere like Chandrapur without access to comparable educational resources," Supriya Sule remarked during the NDTV Yuva event.

She advocated for comprehensive public discussions regarding reservation policies.

"We should initiate an inclusive conversation. Let's consult all stakeholders across the nation about their perspectives and foster an open debate. These discussions should occur in educational institutions, community forums, and all available platforms. I'd like to conduct a quick survey here to understand the present sentiment," she added.

When audience members were polled regarding their preference between economic-based versus caste-based reservation systems, the majority supported economic criteria.

In response to these results, Ms. Sule expressed, "I'm grateful to feel such connection with Generation Z. I'll sleep more peacefully tonight knowing I'm aligned with my constituents."

NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) speaks on reservation, what the youth wants, and more on #NDTVYuva @PadmajaJoshi pic.twitter.com/PS08WQmPCW

— NDTV (@ndtv) September 21, 2025

Ms. Sule's commentary follows recent extensive demonstrations across Maharashtra led by activist Manoj Jarange, who demanded reservation in employment and education for Marathas from Marathwada and western Maharashtra regions. He concluded his protest earlier this month after the Maharashtra government accepted most demands, including providing eligible Marathas with Kunbi caste certificates, thereby making them qualified for reservation benefits available to Other Backward Classes (OBCs).