Bid to create rift between Marathas and OBCs should be stopped: Pankaja Munde

Pankaja, who represents the OBC community, said, “Even we can take to the streets and show our might... The violence in Beed was unprecedented. This has happened for the first time.”

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national secretary Pankaja Munde. (File)

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national secretary Pankaja Munde on Wednesday expressed disappointment over the violence in her home district of Beed during the Maratha reservation agitation and said all attempts to create rift between the community and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) should stop.

Pankaja, who represents the OBC community, said, “Even we can take to the streets and show our might… The violence in Beed was unprecedented. This has happened for the first time.”

Demanding an investigation into the violence, she said, “The violence that led to setting of MLAs’ houses on fire and attacks on commercial establishments should be thoroughly investigated. If anybody tries to create enmity and make Marathas and OBCs fight with each other, it will not work. Such attempts should be immediately stopped.”

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The former state minister also visited places in Beed where violence happened, after senior NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) minister Chhagan Bhujbal visited the district. Bhujbal who is the OBC leader had given a clarion call to the OBC community to unite and thwart the Marathas demand for reservation within OBC category.

In 2019, Pankaja lost Parli assembly constituency in Beed. She was defeated by her cousin, NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) minister Dhananjay Munde.

Two days ago, Dhananjay Munde had demanded the constitution of a special investigation team to probe the violence which took place during Maratha reservation agitation.

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