Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde may have claimed that the two Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar are with him on the issue of Maratha reservation, the differences in the ministry came out in open with veteran OBC leader and minister Chhagan Bhujbal saying that the government is diluting the OBC quota and giving backdoor entry to Marathas by issuing Kunbi caste certificates.
Bhujbal, who belongs to the Ajit Pawar-led faction of NCP, described the development as an “eyewash” and said “caste is determined by birth and not by affidavits”.
“Any decision has to be taken without fear, without favour,” said Bhujbal, the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister, who is also the National President of Mahatma Phule Samata Parishad.
Over the past few months, Bhujbal, a veteran politician, is at loggerheads with Manoj Jarange-Patil, who has been spearheading the Maratha reservation demand and call for issuance of Kunbi Maratha and Marathi Kunbi certificates to enable them to get benefit under the OBC quota.
“The notification would fail in the test of law,” asserted Bhujbal. “It was a matter of study whether it is unfair to OBCs or Marathas to be taken for a ride. Intellectuals from the Maratha community should also think about it,” he said.
“What if Dalits and Adivasis also make a similar demand that all blood relatives be given the caste certificate,” Bhujbal wanted to know.
On the issue of free education to Maratha boys on the lines of free KG-to-PG education for girl children, he said: “Why only Marathas? Let all castes, including Brahmins, be given free education,” he said.
Published 27 January 2024, 10:39 IST