Maharashtra Minister and senior OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Monday opposed the inclusion of Marathas in the state’s Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota, emphasizing that only 17 per cent reservation is currently available for 374 communities.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting of OBC leaders, Bhujbal warned that any attempt to reduce the quota for existing OBC communities could trigger protests from lakhs of members across the state.
The debate follows activist Manoj Jarange’s ongoing hunger strike at Azad Maidan, Mumbai, which began on August 29. Jarange is demanding Kunbi status for Marathas, which would allow them to access reservation benefits, as Kunbis are part of the OBC category.
Bhujbal highlighted that of the 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in Maharashtra, 6 per cent is allocated to nomadic tribes, 2 per cent to the Gowari community, with the remaining 17 per cent shared among 374 communities. He added that the court has already dismissed attempts to categorize Marathas and Kunbis as a single community as “foolish.”
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)