Maratha-OBC row: CM asks ministers to not escalate matter
Senior minister and OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal of the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) had said that giving Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas could put OBC reservations in peril.
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Maharashtra CM Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. (File) A day after two Cabinet ministers — Chhagan Bhujbal and Shambhuraj Desai — exchanged verbal blows over Maratha reservation, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday asked both of them to not indulge in infighting at least until Diwali is over.
Shinde met ministers after the state cabinet meeting asking all officials to leave the hall, sources said.
Senior minister and OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal of the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) had said that giving Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas could put OBC reservations in peril.
Reacting Bhujbal’s statement, his cabinet colleague Shambhuraj Desai Tuesday claimed that Bhujbal has a habit of making such statements to gain publicity.
During the meeting, Bhujbal explained his statement and also pointed out how police went into spectator’s position during the violence as a result of action taken against them after the police lathicharge in Jalna’s Antarwali-Sarati village two months ago.
According to a minister present in the meeting, state excise minister Shambhuraj Desai of the Shinde Sena questioned Bhujbal about his statement that the “government will fall” if the situation persists.
“Bhujbal’s reply was that his statement should be read in the context of police inaction at the time of violence in Beed district during the Maratha reservation,” the minister said.
Sources also said that Bhujbal said in the meeting that since Maratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patil is set to kickstart his statewide tour in coming days, there will be replies from the other side as well.
“How can one side remain silent while the other continue to make statements and tour the state,” Bhujbal reportedly said in the meeting.
During the meeting, while BJP chose to play on both sides, the clear division was between the Ajit Pawar – affiliated Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena.
“The Chief Minister intervened repeatedly and said that it was time for festivities and it was important to maintain peace all over the state. He asked both ministers to not escalate the matter and stop indulging in resorting to verbal war until next few days,” another minister said.
A delegation of OBC leaders on Monday had held a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis demanding to ensure that the OBC reservation is not compromised, which Fadnavis had then assured them.
The OBC organisations have announced to hold statewide OBC Elgar rallies across the state, starting from November 17.
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