In a development surrounding the State government’s draft notification on Maratha reservation, OBC leaders have raised objections, with Cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal deeming the notification “illegal.” National OBC Federation president Babanrao Taywade has thrown a challenge to the government, urging them to disclose the number of new Kunbi records discovered since the agitation led by Manoj Jarange.
Addressing reporters in Nashik on Saturday, Bhujbal criticized the state government, accusing it of succumbing to pressure from the Maratha community. He expressed concerns over the decision-making process, stating that decisions on crucial matters like reservation should not be influenced in this manner.
Bhujbal has called for a meeting at his official residence in Mumbai on Sunday evening to discuss the future course of action. He has invited leaders from various communities, including SC/ST, to attend the meeting and deliberate on the potential implications of the Maratha draft notification on the reservation share of other communities.
While acknowledging the elation of the Maratha community with the draft notification, Bhujbal cast doubts on its legal standing. He cautioned that the decision could impact the reservation share of the OBC community and appealed to OBC members to file objections to the draft resolution by the February 16 deadline.
The minister questioned the use of the term ‘sage-soyare’ (kins) in deciding caste, emphasizing that caste is assigned at birth and not through any affidavit. He expressed concerns that allowing this could open the door for anyone to claim a relationship with a person belonging to the SC/ST community.
Bhujbal also cautioned Maratha community members, stating that if they opt for reservation under the OBC category, they would not be entitled to opportunities under the general category or the economically weaker section category, where Marathas constitute the largest community.
Contradicting the state’s claim of disbursing 37 lakh Kunbi certificates, Babanrao Taywade contended that these certificates span from 1994 till date. He expressed confidence that a significant portion of the claimed number already had Kunbi certificates before the agitation, with only a few more people obtaining certificates after the government scrutinized additional documents.
