OBC Jan Morcha chief Prakash Shendge, who won the Sangli Lok Sabha seat on a BJP ticket in 2009 and later contested on an NCP ticket in 2014, has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the Maharashtra government’s move to allow Marathas to obtain Kunbi (OBC) certificates. In an interview with The Indian Express, he explains why he believes the GR (Government Resolution) is unconstitutional and how it has fractured social harmony across the state.
All OBC leaders including me met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Sahyadri guest house and we demanded that the GR issued for Maratha reservation be scrapped, because it is unjust to the OBC community. The CM urged us not to go ahead with our protest scheduled to be held on October 10, but there was a consensus among all OBC groups that we would proceed anyway since there was no satisfactory response from the government.
With this GR, Marathas will effectively take over the reservation meant for OBCs. We clearly conveyed to the CM that the Maratha community is already getting 18 per cent reservation through the EWS and SEBC categories. What more do they need? Why should the government cave into an unconstitutional demand? The CM assured us that bogus caste certificates would not be issued, but the talks were inconclusive. So, we are moving ahead with our agitation on October 10.
Q. Is your opposition to the idea of Maratha reservation itself, or only to granting it under the OBC quota?
Our objection is specifically to granting Marathas OBC status. They already have reservation under SEBC and other categories. But the way the government has issued this GR — allowing a local Talathi to issue Kunbi caste certificates — is unacceptable. This opens the door to massive corruption. Anyone can now claim to be Kunbi and obtain OBC status. Lakhs of such certificates could be issued. This is not something the OBC community can accept.
Q. A large section of the Maratha community is economically and educationally backward. Shouldn’t they get some kind of reservation?
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Economic or educational backwardness alone does not qualify a community for OBC reservation. The Supreme Court has clearly said that Marathas are not socially backward, and that’s the key criterion.
OBC reservation is based on social backwardness as defined under Article 340 of the Constitution. Marathas do not fit that category. The government has simply bowed to pressure from Manoj Jarange-Patil’s protest and issued this GR, which we consider unjust.
Q. Do you believe this GR can actually give Marathas OBC status?
Yes, because the GR says that anyone who can show or even claim Kunbi ancestry — or provide an affidavit or reference from someone else — can get a Kunbi certificate and thus OBC status.
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This is an open invitation to corruption. The Marathas already have reservation benefits. Even the courts have stated this clearly.
Q. If Marathas already have SEBC benefits, why do you think they are still demanding OBC reservation?
The Marathas want political representation from the OBC quota. There are 374 castes in the OBC list — mostly small and scattered groups — who were given reservation to ensure political participation and representation. Now the Marathas want that same political share too. They are already well represented in politics and government jobs. So, this demand isn’t about economic or educational hardship — it’s purely for political power.
Q. How has the issue affected social relations in rural Maharashtra?
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The situation has become very bad. Social harmony has almost collapsed. OBC students are being rusticated from Maratha-run institutions and vice-versa. People have stopped doing business with each other, and even avoid meeting during personal tragedies.
This has all happened because of Manoj Jarange-Patil’s agitation. Earlier, Marathas had taken out 58 silent marches across the state, and we had supported them then — because their demand then was for reservation as Marathas, not from the OBC quota. Now that they are demanding reservation from our quota, it is unjustified.
Q. Dhangars and Banjaras have also renewed their reservation demands. What is your view?
Since the government has started issuing GRs based on old Gazetteers, it will naturally set a precedent. Other communities will also demand reservation in a similar way. This is why we say the process is not appropriate. Reservation must be granted within the constitutional framework, not through administrative shortcuts.
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Q. Dhangars have been demanding reservation for many years. Do you support their demand?
Yes, their demand is genuine. The state has said there were no Dhangars in Maharashtra, only Dhangads — but both are the same. Across the country, Dhangads are getting reservation; only in Maharashtra they are not. It’s just a matter of spelling or pronunciation. Hence, we are demanding that Dhangars should also get reservation under the proper constitutional provisions.
