The state government’s draft notification granting Kunbi certificates to all Marathas was referred to as a “eyewash” by Maharashtra minister and OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who asserted that caste is defined by birth rather than affidavits.
Latest News Updates : Caste is determined by birth, not by affidavits, according to Maharashtra minister and Other Backward Class (OBC) leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who called the state government’s draft announcement offering Kunbi certificates to all Marathas a mere “eyewash” on Saturday. Saying that “it’s backdoor entry of Marathas into OBC category,” he questioned his own government.
Veteran OBC politician Bhujbal addressed the media following the end of Manoj Jarange’s indefinite hunger strike on Saturday morning, following the state government’s acceptance of all of his requests for reservations for the Maratha community.
State Minister of Food and Civil Supplies Chhagan Bhujbal declared, “The draft notification that the state government released giving Kunbi certificates to all Marathas is a sham. Research was needed to determine whether OBCs were being treated unfairly or if Marathas were being taken advantage of.” He went on, “The Maratha community’s experts ought to consider it.”
A draft notification was also released by the state government on Saturday, recognizing as Kunbi all blood relatives of Maratha community members whose Kunbi caste documents have been located. Kunbi is an agrarian community that is classified as OBC. Jarange had been requesting that all Marathas have Kunbi credentials.
According to PTI, Bhujbal was reacting to allegations made by CM Shinde that Marathas would receive OBC privileges until they received reservation. “Birth determines caste; affidavits do not. What if all blood relatives receive caste certificates as demanded by dalits and adivasis?,” Bhujbal said.
He also attacked Jarange’s demands that employment openings be reserved for Marathas and that community members receive 100% free education. “Why just Marathas? Let there be free education for all castes, including Brahmins,” he declared.
Chhagan Bhujbal is the head of the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) group, which has backed the current Maharashtra administration led by the Shiv Sena and Eknath Shinde of the BJP.
According to Bhujbal, he has called all OBC leaders to a discussion on the matter on Sunday.
Maharashtra’s chief minister, Eknath Shinde, spoke at a rally on Saturday as Maratha quota campaigner Manoj Jarange Patil’s hunger strike came to a conclusion in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, stating, “We will fulfill the public oath (promise made to people) in regards to Maratha community reservation.” Additionally, he guaranteed that the reservation would be made in accordance with the law.