Maratha reservation: Bhujbal warns of reaction from OBCs, says caste census need of the hour

OBC leaders from across the state’s political spectrum were in attendance at the rally where leader after leader spoke against the inclusion of Marathas under the OBC category.

Bhujbal also took on the state government for its kid glove handling of the Maratha agitation. He also said that members of the OBC community and their leaders were deliberately being targeted.

“I have been getting messages that our banners are being torn. Are your hands tied? We will have to reply in the same coin. There is banners banning the entry of politicians? Who puts them? Are they the owner of the land now? I want to warn the police administration that those banners should be removed right away. Is there an existence of governance? Is there a rule of law?” asked Bhujbal.

The venue of the OBC rally was merely 20 kilometres away from Antarwali-Saarati village of Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil where he had sat on fast unto death demanding Kunbi certificate to Marathas.

Bhujbal also said the ‘biased action’ against OBCs will result in Dalit, Muslims and Tribals uniting behind OBCs against Marathas. Bhujbal said the OBCs should not be provoked.
Earlier, he accused Maratha protesters of attacking policemen and women which led to lathicharge at Antarwali-Saarati village in Jalna district in September 2023 which sparked the Maratha reservation agitation across the state and made Jarange-Patil as the face of the protest.

“Nearly 70 police personnel were admitted to the hospital and women police personnel faced atrocities which should be investigated by state women’s commission. This man (Manoj Jarange-Patil) was hiding in the night and was brought to the stage again by Rajesh Tope and Rohit Pawar (both MLAs of opposition NCP) and these two leaders called Sharad Pawar to visit him. Had Pawar known the reality (of attack on police force), he would not have come to meet him (Jarange-Patil),” Bhujbal said.

All-party OBC leaders gathered in Ambad in Jalna district of Marathwada to participate in the OBC Maha Elgar Rally on Friday. Bhujbal from Ajit Pawar group NCP, Congress’ Vijay Wadettiwar who is the leader of Opposition, BJP MLC Gopichand Padalkar, former BJP MLA Ashish Deshmukh, former minister and Dhangar community leader Mahadev Jankar were among the few present in the rally.

Earlier, speaking at the rally, OBC leader Prakash Shendge said that Marathas have been threatening to defeat our leader Chhagan Bhujbal. “If you try to defeat him, we will ensure that 160 Maratha leaders will lose the election.”

Wadettiwar said the OBCs are not against Maratha reservation but will stand united irrespective of political ideology if an attempt is being made to reduce OBC reservation. “We are not bothered about our post. Ultimately, our community matters the most to us. You (Marathas) call yourself as our big brother, then behave like one. Do not try to snatch food from our plate,” he said.

“We all OBCs should go together to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demand caste census, only to prove who has the largest number,” said Wadettiwar. The Congress leader said that irrespective of political differences, OBC leaders in the state will not allow the reservation to be reduced, reiterating that whoever speaks in favour of OBCs will rule the country.

“OBC reservation is a constitutional right and it is the collective responsibility of ruling and opposition parties to safeguard it,” he said, adding that such rallies should be held across each and every district.

BJP MLC Gopichand Padalkar said that it was time for OBCs to organise and challenge the rulers to claim rights. “There are hundreds of smaller castes which have been denied their rights. Reducing OBC reservation will be an injustice to them,” he said.

Speakers across party ideologies and organisations stressed that the OBCs ultimately decide which government is going to come to power. Dhangar leader and former minister Mahadev Jankar said that it was time for OBCs to start their own political front and asked Bhujbal to take the lead. “For how long we will be asking leaders of other parties to work for us. It was time to form our own party,” he said.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Ashish Deshmukh, who praised PM Narendra Modi, CM Eknath Shinde, and DCMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, received a warning from organisers not to use the platform to push political agenda and announced that no glorification of any political leader will be allowed. Organisers demanded that the speakers should make comments only about the OBCs and the issue of reservation instead of getting involved in political speech.

Earlier in his speech Bhujbal recalled how his former boss Sharad Pawar played a role in implementing the Mandal commission recommendations. “V P Singh decided to implement the Mandal commission. We had demanded Sharad Pawar to implement the same. He did so. He had no option but to do so,” said Bhujbal as he narrated the journey of OBC reservation in Maharashtra. “We are not encroaching on anyone else’s reservation. Khatri, Bhatia, Mhase and many commissions have said in the past that Marathas cannot be given reservation in OBCs,” he said.

The minister clarified that the OBCs do not oppose reservation to Marathas. “I was in opposition when the previous government gave reservations to Marathas. I supported it. It was stuck in the Supreme Court. Why don’t you try to solve that problem instead of encroaching on someone else’s reservation,” he said. He pointed out that Marathas comprise 85% of the 10% EWS reservation, have a lion’s share in open category and now even want a share in 27% OBC reservation.