Datar: The determination in the past has consistently rejected the notion that the Marathas are a backward class. There was nothing to show that the Maratha community was sliding back and that there was any retardation.

Divan: Maratha community has excelled in every sphere of society - education, government, banking etc. Further, the report which showed the parameters on which Marathas were being judged, exhibited that there was an issue of conservatism and not of backwardness.

Divan: The MG Gaikwad Commission report in favour of the Maratha quota is flawed. It failed to consider the community as politically organised and politically dominant. Such a community cannot be backward. It’s only conservative.