Chhagan Bhujbal: Jarange should refrain from speaking, govt will decide on Maratha quota

Chhagan Bhujbal. File Pic

Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, a prominent opponent of including Marathas in the OBC quota, asked activist Manoj Jarange to exercise restraint, claiming that the state government will take serious action on the Maratha reservation issue. Bhujbal supported a distinct quota for Marathas but opposed issuing Kunbi caste certificates without sufficient verification, stated a PTI report.

Speaking to the media, Bhujbal underlined the approaching special session of the state assembly on February 20 to address reservations and other Maratha community demands. He encouraged Jarange, who had resumed his indefinite fast in Jalna district, to stop using harsh language towards senior ministers and government officials, emphasising that the government was dedicated to addressing the Maratha community's problems, reported PTI.

"Jarange should sit quietly as the state is going to take a firm decision on giving reservation benefits to the Maratha community. He is unnecessarily using abusive language against senior ministers and government officials," Bhujbal said.

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The OBC leader said, "Now Jarange is stuck and using abusive language."

According to the report, Bhujbal criticised Jarange's conduct, claiming that the activist's premature assumptions about the release of the government's survey report on Maratha community backwardness prompted his fast, which lacked factual support. He warned against premature judgements and harsh words, arguing for a deliberate approach to settling the difficult issue of the Maratha reservation.

Bhujbal expressed his support for a separate quota for Marathas and restated his opposition to their inclusion in the OBC category via "backdoor entry," emphasising the importance of comprehensive inspection to ensure the reservation system's integrity. He questioned why Marathas wanted OBC classification when there are already 374 separate OBC castes in Maharashtra, the PTI report further stated.

"However, I am opposed to issuing Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas without any due diligence. Such backdoor entry for Marathas in the OBC (category) is not acceptable. There are nearly 374 different types of castes categorised as OBCs in Maharashtra. Why do Marathas want to be a part of it," Bhujbal added.

Union Minister Narayan Rane rejected Jarange's legitimacy when he threatened to interrupt Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public events. Rane criticised Jarange's views as unreasonable and encouraged him to recognise his limitations and avoid unnecessary interruptions. "It seems he has had some mental shock and he is making comments that do not make any sense," the former chief minister said; Rane further said that the activist should know his "limited worth" and "stay in bed".