Maratha quota row: Day after ordinance is passed, blowback starts

Confusion over and opposition to the Maratha reservation has begun in the Maharashtra government after it issued a notification based on the agitators' demands. Minister Chhagan Bhujbal of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) held a meeting on Sunday with various OBC leaders at his official residence in Malabar Hill. They passed a resolution in the meeting that the government's notification should be cancelled.

After the agitation led by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil ended at Navi Mumbai, the state government issued a notification on Saturday. According to the draft notification, Marathas who have a direct blood relative with a Kunbi caste certificate, can with an affidavit, secure a Kunbi caste certificate for themselves and claim reservation as Other Backward Classes (OBC). Bhujbal, who is Maharashtra's minister of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection, opposed the notification, claiming that it will impact the current reservation quota for OBCs. Former Minister Ram Shinde, MLC Gopichand Padalkar and other OBC leaders were present during Bhujbal's meeting.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde offers juice to Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil to break the latter's fast after the state government accepted his demands, in Navi Mumbai, on Saturday

Adopting a confrontational stance, Bhujbal labelled the notification a "backdoor entry" for Marathas into the OBC category. While talking to the media on Sunday morning, Bhujbal said, "Succumbing to pressure from the Maratha community, the government has announced decisions that are illegal and unfair to the OBCs. Even if the government succumbs to pressure, we will not remain silent. Let us raise our voice against this injustice on the OBC community. We will file an objection over the draft notification published on Saturday. We will also take legal advice for this."

‘Get separate quota'

He added, "While I support Maratha reservation, providing a separate reservation for Marathas would be ideal. However, incorporating them into the existing OBC quota is neither advisable, nor acceptable as OBCs fear losing their reservations to Marathas. I believe that conferring a distinct reservation for Marathas would be more appropriate, ensuring that they receive the benefits without affecting the existing OBC quotas."

Maratha community members during an address by Shinde with Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange and others at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk, Vashi, in Navi Mumbai, Saturday. Pics/PTI

The Kunbi community, classified under the OBC category, is pertinent to the issue. Jarange Patil, leading the agitation for the Maratha reservation since August 2023, has been advocating for Kunbi certificates for all Marathas. Bhujbal, who belongs to the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP, concluded by expressing dissatisfaction with the Chief Minister's statements. He also objected to the continuation of the retired Justice Sandeep Shinde Committee, tasked with investigating Kunbi records of Marathas.

‘OBCs must object'

While speaking to the media after the meeting, Bhujbal said that they had passed a resolution that the state government should cancel Saturday's draft notification, that the justice Sandeep Shinde Committee is unconstitutional and should be scrapped. "On February 1, all OBC citizens should give a letter to the MLAs, MPs and tehsildars of their constituencies opposing this draft. On February 3, the OBC community will conduct a rally at Amravati. Also, the Maharashtra Yatra will be started soon against this decision of the state government," Bhujbal said.

Feb 3
Day OBC community will hold rally in Amravati