CM to hold all-party meeting in monsoon session: Bhujbal

The OBC leaders adopted an aggressive stand at the meeting, opposing issuance of ‘kunbhi’ certificates to all Marathas and their blood relations as demanded by activist Manoj Jarange Patil. They vehemently opposed the inclusion of Marathas under OBC reservation using ‘kunbhi’ certificates.

Addressing the media after the meeting held late Friday evening, Bhujbal said, “Shinde assured to call an all-party meeting in the monsoon session to find a solution to the vexed issue on draft notification on sage soyare.”

It must be mentioned here that Jarange Patil, who is steering the Maratha agitation for the last two years, has demanded implementation of the draft notification on ‘sage soyare’. ‘sage soyare’ is a Marathi term which means family tree. Jarange Patil has urged the government to give all Marathas and their blood relations across the state ‘kunbhi’ certificates to facilitate them to avail OBC quota.

Bhujbal said, “We drew the CM’s and Deputy CMs’ attention to rampant misuse of kunbhi certificates which are being issued to Marathas. We demanded stern action on false certificate issuance.”

While criticising the demand of Marathas for ‘sage soyare’ notification, OBC leaders at the meeting questioned its necessity. According to Bhujbal, “There is an official detailed document which cites rules on how caste certificates and validity certificates are issued. It is applied for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs. When it is already in existence where is the need for a separate draft notification for sage soyare.”

Shengde said, “If Marathas are allowed to avail OBC quota they will corner 80 per cent of the reservation. The OBCs, which has 300 castes and sub castes, will be deprived of its legitimate rights.”

Another issue which came up during the discussion was Marathas availing quota under multiple schemes.

A group of ministers led by Bhujbal on Saturday will visit Wadigori village in Jalna district to appeal to OBC activists Laxman Hake and Navnath Waghmare to end their hunger strike. The duo are on hunger strike since June 13. Their demand is Marathas should not get quota in OBC.

“Since the CM has given us assurance that OBCs’ concerns will be addressed soon, we will request Hake and Waghmare to end their fast and protest,” he added.