MUMBAI: OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal welcomed independent Maratha reservation on Tuesday but said the govt should also end Maratha activist Manoj Jarange‘s “dadagiri” (bullying).
“His demand was for reservation for the Marathas. Shinde-Fadnavis have accepted his proposal and, accordingly, a legislation was enacted in both houses of the legislature on Tuesday. He is constantly using abusive language not only against me but even [CM] Eknath Shinde and [Dy CM] Devendra Fadnavis. Govt must take immediate steps to stop it,” he said.
Bhujbal said he was never against providing reservation for the Marathas and had extended support to the demand in the past. He said it was unfortunate that earlier Maratha reservation did not stand the scrutiny of the law.
“I am sure this time the govt has taken cognisance of the observations made by the Supreme Court and, accordingly, drafted the new law. All along my contention was that while granting reservation to the Maratha community, the existing reservation for the OBC community should not be disturbed,” he said.
Bhujbal said separate reservation had been granted to the Marathas and it was wrong now to demand a quota within OBC quota. “Jarange is demanding reservation from the OBC quota, false Kunbi certifications are being given across the state,” he said, adding that Jarange’s demand to grant reservation to sage-soyare (blood relations) was wrong, and the concept had no legal validity.
Bhujbal said that in the recent past the agitating Marathas had targeted members of the OBC community, resulting in serious injuries in incidents like stone-pelting.
Other OBC leaders said the govt should call a special session for other communities to allay their concerns on socio-economic issues. The state has nearly 250 castes under OBC category, among the highest in the country.
“The govt should not give blanket permission to Marathas to get OBC certificates while ensuring the existing 27% quota for OBCs is not tampered with,” OBC Mahasangh leader Babanrao Taywade said.
(With inputs from
Prasad Kulkarni in Pune)
“His demand was for reservation for the Marathas. Shinde-Fadnavis have accepted his proposal and, accordingly, a legislation was enacted in both houses of the legislature on Tuesday. He is constantly using abusive language not only against me but even [CM] Eknath Shinde and [Dy CM] Devendra Fadnavis. Govt must take immediate steps to stop it,” he said.
Bhujbal said he was never against providing reservation for the Marathas and had extended support to the demand in the past. He said it was unfortunate that earlier Maratha reservation did not stand the scrutiny of the law.
“I am sure this time the govt has taken cognisance of the observations made by the Supreme Court and, accordingly, drafted the new law. All along my contention was that while granting reservation to the Maratha community, the existing reservation for the OBC community should not be disturbed,” he said.
Bhujbal said separate reservation had been granted to the Marathas and it was wrong now to demand a quota within OBC quota. “Jarange is demanding reservation from the OBC quota, false Kunbi certifications are being given across the state,” he said, adding that Jarange’s demand to grant reservation to sage-soyare (blood relations) was wrong, and the concept had no legal validity.
Bhujbal said that in the recent past the agitating Marathas had targeted members of the OBC community, resulting in serious injuries in incidents like stone-pelting.
Other OBC leaders said the govt should call a special session for other communities to allay their concerns on socio-economic issues. The state has nearly 250 castes under OBC category, among the highest in the country.
“The govt should not give blanket permission to Marathas to get OBC certificates while ensuring the existing 27% quota for OBCs is not tampered with,” OBC Mahasangh leader Babanrao Taywade said.
(With inputs from
Prasad Kulkarni in Pune)