Maratha Kranti Morcha stands divided on reservation under OBC

The MKM coordinator who played a crucial role in the 2017-18 agitation said, ” With a growing protest from OBCs, it is clear that Maratha reservation under OBC will be very difficult.” Secondly, Kunbis in Vidarbha region are also opposing a blanket issuance of Kunbi certificates to all Marathas across Maharashtra. The Kunbi Sena activists in Vidarbha joined OBC organisations to oppose Maratha reservation within OBC.”

On Saturday, Jarange-Patil held a rally at Jalna district. Giving the state Shinde government ten days to grant reservation, he warned of taking to street protests again if not done.

Senior BJP leader and revenue minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said, “We don’t subscribe to Jarange-Patil’s demand for Maratha reservation under OBC quota. The demand is wrong.”

He said the Marathas are “unanimous in seeking reservation in government education and jobs. But the original demand was that the community should get independent reservation. We want an independent quota entirely for Marathas. Most community members who led the protests in 2017-18 also had demanded this. Marathas have never sought quota under OBC.”

With the Maratha reservation issue resurfacing as Jarange-Patil gets more hawkish, the state government is under pressure to deliver. On the other hand, OBC organisations on Saturday warned they will hold bigger rallies to counter Maratha demand for reservation under OBC.

Rashtriya OBC Mahasangh president, Babanrao Taywade, said, “We will not allow inclusion of Marathas within OBC. Any attempt by the government will be effectively countered. We are not against Maratha reservation, but it should be separate.”

In 2018, then CM Devendra Fadnavis-led government had passed a legislation in the state assembly approving reservation to Marathas under specially constituted Special Backward Class Category. The Maratha were given 12 and 13 per cent reservation in education and jobs respectively. The state government decision was implemented, but was challenged in the apex court. In May 2021, the SC scrapped Maratha reservation under SEBC Act.

Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis has assured that the Shinde-led government was committed to Maratha reservation. “In 2018, during my tenure, Maratha reservation was implemented but it was struck down in the Supreme Court. The state government is absolutely committed to Maratha reservation which will withstand constitutional and legal tests”, he has said.

At the same time Fadnavis has also indicated that while Marathas will get justice, the government will ensure the OBC quota is not compromised.

A similar reassurance has come from state leaders representing Shinde Sena and NCP led by deputy CM Ajit Pawar.

A senior Sena ( Shinde faction) minister requesting anonymity said, “When Jarange-Patil was on indefinite fast last month, Shinde went personally and promised to address all his concerns on Maratha reservation. He helped Jarange Patil break the fast. A committee led by a retired judge was set up. As sought by Jarange Patil, all documents existing since the Nizams era were ratified to ascertain Kunbi certificates. When the government is proactively working on the issue, why give an ultimatum?”

“Maratha reservation is a complex subject. It has to be valid legally,” a BJP cabinet minister added.

The state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said, “BJP had shown its commitment to reservation in 2018 itself.

During the MVA-led government under Uddhav Thackeray, the Supreme Court struck down the reservation. Even now the Shinde government is honestly working to restore Maratha reservation”.