NASHIK/PUNE: State government’s draft notification on Maratha reservation has drawn sharp reactions from OBC leaders. Cabinet minister and senior OBC politician Chhagan Bhujbal termed the notification “illegal”, while national OBC federation president Babanrao Taywade challenged government to release the figure of new Kunbi records found since Manoj Jarange’s agitation.
Talking to reporters in Nashik on Saturday, Bhujbal alleged state had ‘succumbed’ to the pressure from the Maratha community on the reservation issue. “This is not the way decisions are taken on vital issues like reservation. As elected representatives, each one of us has taken oath to take a call on issues without fear and favour,” said Bhujbal.
Bhujbal has called a meeting to discuss the future course of action at his official residence in Mumbai on Sunday evening. He has appealed to leaders from other communities, including SC/ST, to attend the meeting to discuss the implication of the Maratha draft notification on other communities’ quota share. Legal experts, too, would be present during the deliberations.
“Although the Maratha community is ‘elated’ with the draft notification, I doubt it will stand in the court of law,” said Bhujbal. Responding to questions, the minister apprehended the government’s decision could have an impact on the reservation share of the OBC community.
The minister appealed to people of the OBC community to file objections to the draft resolution by February 16.
Explaining the issue, Bhujbal questioned how the word ‘sage-soyare’ (kins) be used while deciding caste, which is assigned at birth and not through any affidavit. “If this is ‘allowed’ then anybody will ‘claim’ to be a relative of a person belonging to SC/ST community and seek a certificate of those categories,” he said.
Bhujbal cautioned the Maratha community members that if they are keen on reservation under the OBC category, they would not be entitled to opportunities under general category or under economically weaker section category where Marathas are the largest community.
“In the OBC category, the Maratha candidates have to compete with candidates from 374 different castes that come under the ambit of OBC,” he stated. Bhujbal was also critical of the demand of withdrawing cases against those accused in acts of violence during the agitation. “Tomorrow, any group can take such steps and then press for withdrawal of cases. How can this be?” he asked.
While the state claimed of disbursing 37 lakh Kunbi certificates, Babanrao Taywade claimed these certificates are from 1994 till date. “I am confident that out of the total number that the government is claiming, 99% of these people already had Kunbi certificates before the agitation. Only a few more people have got the certificates after the government scanned more documents,” said Taywade.
Talking to reporters in Nashik on Saturday, Bhujbal alleged state had ‘succumbed’ to the pressure from the Maratha community on the reservation issue. “This is not the way decisions are taken on vital issues like reservation. As elected representatives, each one of us has taken oath to take a call on issues without fear and favour,” said Bhujbal.
Bhujbal has called a meeting to discuss the future course of action at his official residence in Mumbai on Sunday evening. He has appealed to leaders from other communities, including SC/ST, to attend the meeting to discuss the implication of the Maratha draft notification on other communities’ quota share. Legal experts, too, would be present during the deliberations.
“Although the Maratha community is ‘elated’ with the draft notification, I doubt it will stand in the court of law,” said Bhujbal. Responding to questions, the minister apprehended the government’s decision could have an impact on the reservation share of the OBC community.
The minister appealed to people of the OBC community to file objections to the draft resolution by February 16.
Explaining the issue, Bhujbal questioned how the word ‘sage-soyare’ (kins) be used while deciding caste, which is assigned at birth and not through any affidavit. “If this is ‘allowed’ then anybody will ‘claim’ to be a relative of a person belonging to SC/ST community and seek a certificate of those categories,” he said.
Bhujbal cautioned the Maratha community members that if they are keen on reservation under the OBC category, they would not be entitled to opportunities under general category or under economically weaker section category where Marathas are the largest community.
“In the OBC category, the Maratha candidates have to compete with candidates from 374 different castes that come under the ambit of OBC,” he stated. Bhujbal was also critical of the demand of withdrawing cases against those accused in acts of violence during the agitation. “Tomorrow, any group can take such steps and then press for withdrawal of cases. How can this be?” he asked.
While the state claimed of disbursing 37 lakh Kunbi certificates, Babanrao Taywade claimed these certificates are from 1994 till date. “I am confident that out of the total number that the government is claiming, 99% of these people already had Kunbi certificates before the agitation. Only a few more people have got the certificates after the government scanned more documents,” said Taywade.