Jalna, Maharashtra: Senior NCP minister Chhagan Bhujbal has called for a massive OBC rally at Ambad on November 17 to protest against the Maratha reservation demand.
Bhujbal has opposed a blanket reservation to the Maratha community and their inclusion in the Kunbi community, an OBC sub-caste. He has also described the attacks on the houses of legislators Prakash Solanke and Sandip Kshirsagar as pre-planned.
In a leaked telephone conversation, Bhujbal is said to have described the Maratha reservation demand as a challenge for the OBC community and said that this challenge needs to be addressed head-on. He has also said that the OBC communities must raise their voice strongly and that he himself will take the lead in this.
The Maharashtra government has been trying to woo both Maratha and OBC communities by giving reservation to Marathas as OBC, but also not touching the existing OBC reservation. However, the BJP is concerned that any effort to give reservation to Marathas should not affect the OBCs.
Bhujbal’s call for an OBC rally has put the Maharashtra government in a spot. If Bhujbal launches an agitation of OBCs from November 17, the job will become even more tougher for Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
It remains to be seen how the Maharashtra government will address the conflicting demands of the Maratha and OBC communities.
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