‘Why pave backdoor entry for Maratha reservation under OBC quota?’: OBC Jan Manch president

A) It is a betrayal of OBC trust. The state government had repeatedly assured us they will not take any decision that would open doors for Marathas to avail OBC reservation using kunbi certificates. Now, the draft notification has done exactly the opposite. The notification states all blood relations of an individual with a verified kunbi record from the Maratha community will be entitled to kunbi certificates. This means those with kunbi records as well as their relatives will be entitled to certificates. Using these, they will claim rights to OBC reservation.

Q) Kunbis already avail OBC reservation in some parts like Vidarbha. How can you challenge this recent quota move?

A) Reservation is a serious subject. It is not something to be determined on paper or a political forum. Caste is through birth. What the government did is letigimise individuals’ castes through affidavits. It is absurd. Anybody can claim rights to kunbi certificates and avail OBC quota. Moreover, the notification is not restricted to kunbhis. Blood relation rights under caste certificates will hold true for people under scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, Special Backward Category, denotified Tribe et al. It is going to create a lot of chaos and confusion. It will lead to total unrest.

Q) What are OBC organisations planning?

A) We are going to fight on many fronts. We will take the battle to courts. We will hold public rallies. We will fight in the streets to protect OBC quota. We will have to use all available methods to assert ourselves.

Q) But what about Maratha reservation? Don’t they have the right to quota?

A) We never opposed reservation to Marathas. All OBC leaders and organisations have unanimously maintained Marathas should get separate reservation. Our demand was, Marathas should not get reservation under OBC category. We are firm on our stand. The draft notification will not withstand legal and constitutional trial.

Q) The message doing the rounds in political forums is OBCs are unwilling to accommodate kunbis. Is this true?

A) Unfortunately, Marathas do not understand the larger devious game plan of the BJP government. They are rejoicing. But soon they will realise the mistake. At present, Marathas avail reservation under the Economically Backward Class category. Out of ten per cent EWS, Marathas cover up to eight per cent. Soon, the Rohini Commission will be implemented. There will be sub categories with nine per cent each for three different groups. Marathas, who are a dominant community, will have to share quota with mali, teli and several dominant castes within OBC. This means its overall share will shrink to only two per cent. There are 350 castes and sub castes within OBCs. So, exit from EWS will open the entire quota for upper caste brahmins. Marathas once covered under OBC will have to relinquish other rights and incentives.

Q) The Maharashtra government has reassured that its decision on the draft notification will not affect OBCs.

A) We have heard that too. But it is evident that the CM Eknath Shinde-led coalition government is more worried about its Maratha vote bank. All these ad hoc decisions are a result of their concern for Maratha votes. They probably feel Marathas, being more powerful both in terms of resources and finances, cannot be ignored. But anybody taking OBCs for granted will have to face serious ramifications.

Q) How?

A) We will give people an alternative. We will put up a parallel political system. We will issue a clarion call asking OBCs to vote for OBCs only. We will boycott all those parties and leaders who betrayed our trust. It will include all mainstream parties in Maharashtra. Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis used to say OBC is in their DNA. What happened to the DNA. Why are they paving a backdoor entry for Marathas within the OBC quota?