At a time when leaders from Other Backward Class (OBC) communities are becoming more aggressive in demanding a rollback of the Government Resolution (GR) on Hyderabad Gazetteer, one leader stands apart. Babanrao Taywade, President, OBC National Federation, in an interview with Shubhangi Khapre, explains why the OBC quota cannot be diluted. He also discusses his decision to skip the OBC meeting convened by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai on Saturday. Q: Why did you skip the OBC meeting convened by the CM? Babanrao Taywade: I decided not to attend the meeting convened by CM Devendra Fadnavis to avoid a showdown. When the meeting was decided, some OBC leaders put a condition saying they would not participate if I attended. They made it clear that I should not be part of the meeting. I did not want any ugly confrontation. So, I bought peace by skipping the meeting. Q: Does this not threaten OBC unity? Taywade: With 350-plus communities, the OBCs are a scattered group. The OBC unity is a challenge, but then this is an issue each leader should reflect upon. Leadership and protest are fine, but ultimately, what matters is the larger welfare of OBCs. Everyone should adopt a broader approach, keeping OBC well-being as the central issue. Unfortunately, I don't see that happening now. Everybody wants to prove their leadership by pushing issues restricted to their own community. This narrow approach may help in leadership building, but it does not address overall OBC empowerment. Q: Why are OBC leaders opposed to you? Taywade: The reasons are best known to them. I don't want to blame anybody, nor would I like to name those leaders. From my understanding, they believe I have not taken a stand, favouring theirs, which is essentially the outright rejection of the government resolution on the Hyderabad Gazetteer issued by the Maharashtra government led by Devendra Fadnavis recently. The Hyderabad Gazetteer GR is to ascertain the eligible Marathas, their Kunbi status. Q: Marathas want OBC reservation using the Kunbi status. What is your stand? Taywade: From the very beginning, I have maintained that there is nothing wrong with it, provided the Kunbi certificates issued to Marathas are based on documents and thorough scrutiny. If Marathas can provide valid proof through revenue records, ancestral documents, etc, they will be entitled to Kunbi status. And once you have a Kunbi certificate, you automatically avail the OBC quota. These are laid norms and laws. Why make such a hue and cry about things which are evident and within the legal framework? Having said this, I have also made it clear that those failing to provide value documents should not be issued Kunbhi certificates. Q: OBC leaders believe GR was opening a backdoor for the Marathas to get into OBC quota. What's your take on it? Taywade: I can understand their concerns. But as I said, the government will have to function as per constitutional and legal norms. So, only those who are eligible will get kunbhi status. Not every Maratha. We have to adopt a practical approach. Also, understand that you cannot take away anybody's rights. Q: Will OBC quota get undermined with several lakhs of Marathas getting Kunbhi certificates? Taywade: All these apprehensions are an outcome of false propaganda. When the Marathas were protesting, there was a campaign on how three crore Marathas would get Kunbhi certificates. And they will dominate and unsettle the OBC quota. It is factually incorrect. On the contrary, the numbers are much lower. The validity certificates are given after thorough scrutiny. So, I would urge OBCs not to panic. Q: Is your moderate approach to reservation upsetting other OBC leaders? Taywade: I take an aggressive stand only when necessary. My approach has always been to take up the cause for the welfare of the OBC masses. I have never compromised my stand on OBC reservation. I had always said and stood by OBCs. There was no question of any dilution in the OBC quota. Q: But does that help OBC? Taywade: We have to realise our fight is not against any community or its leader. I don't get personal against any community or leader. I fight with the government. And make the government concede to demands for OBC. From 2016 to 2025, I have got 58 GRs issued for OBCs. All the demands placed before the government on OBC issues have been conceded and implemented. There are issues beyond reservation, such as getting 72 new hostels built for OBC students, Rs 6,000 monthly allowance for students in city colleges who don't have hostels or scholarships, financial assistance for starting new businesses, etc. Q: How have reservations led to polarisation? Taywade: The reservation has led to a sharp polarisation with people from the Marathas and OBCs pitted against each other. This is a dangerous trend as it has larger ramifications in the daily lives of people. Our approach is that OBC reservations should be safeguarded at any cost.
