Shambhuraj Desai criticises cabinet colleague Chhagan Bhujbal’s ‘mollycoddling Marathas’ statement
Desai also stated that Bhujbal should not have tried to portray that the OBC reservations were in danger.
2 min read
Maharashtra Minister Shambhuraj Desai with CM Eknath Shinde. (Photo: Shambhuraj Desai/ X) Reacting to Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal’s statement that giving Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas could put OBC reservations in peril, his cabinet colleague Shambhuraj Desai claimed that Bhujbal has a habit of making such statements to gain publicity.
“Such statements can create confusion and rift between castes in Maharashtra. This may worsen the situation in the state. We will present our stand before the chief minister. Perhaps there will be a cabinet meeting tomorrow, we will discuss it,” Desai said. The Shiv Sena leader added that they will speak to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, too, on the controversy.
Desai also stated that Bhujbal should not have tried to portray that the OBC reservations were in danger.
Asked about Bhujbal’s statement, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat said, “If some people want to politicise this issue, then remember, there would be long-term repercussions of it. A rift is being created between two communities and it won’t be good.”
BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule, however, indirectly supported Bhujbal. The saffron leader said it was the party’s stand to not touch the existing OBC reservation.
On Monday, Bhujbal had taken on the state government over its handling of the Maratha quota stir, questioning its ‘mollycoddling’ of Maratha activists. The former deputy chief minister said OBCs could not expect justice from the government, as it was kowtowing to Maratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patil.
“OBC reservations are in danger. A lot of people, including those in the top echelons of Mantralaya, are conspiring to end reservations… So much terror has been created that no one is willing to speak up,” he said.
Jarange Patil had also hit back at Bhujbal, saying OBC leaders were conspiring to book Maratha youths under several criminal cases.
You May Like
Photos
