Maratha quota stir: As Jarange-Patil clashes with Bhujbal, Fadnavis promises no injustice to OBCs

Pune Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis assures that the BJP will protect the rights of the OBC community in Maharashtra.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis on January 29 said that the BJP would not let any injustice befall the other backward classes (OBC) as long as it remained in power in Maharashtra.

Mr. Fadnavis’ statement came in direct response to the concerns expressed by his ally in the State cabinet – Maharashtra Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar) faction leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who has alleged that granting a quota to the Marathas under the OBC community would be eating into the OBC reservation pie.

“It is the view of both CM Eknath Shinde and myself that the rights of the OBC community must be safeguarded. As long as the BJP is part of the State government, we will not permit any injustice to the OBCs. In case a situation does arise that we cannot safeguard their rights, I will myself go and talk to my superiors,” Mr. Fadnavis said.

Despite the Maharashtra government last week assenting to all demands pertaining to the Maratha quota laid down by activist Manoj-Jarange Patil, sparks continued to fly between the activist and Mr. Bhujbal, a prominent OBC community leader.

While Mr. Jarange-Patil, speaking in Beed district on Monday, warned that he would challenge the Mandal Commission reservation process itself if Mr. Bhujbal went too far, the latter reiterated his accusation of the activist trying to secure a quota for the Marathas through the back door.

Mr. Bhujbal also threw down the gauntlet before his own party, the NCP (Ajit Pawar) faction and the Eknath Shinde-led ‘Mahayuti’ government, demanding to know whether they would support him on the issue.

Responding to this, Mr. Fadnavis said, “I will personally speak to Mr. Bhujbal and listen to all his grievances. In case any injustice is being done to the OBC community, we will certainly take note of it. Prima facie, our view is clear that the decision [on the Maratha quota] issue that we have taken is not ad hoc. It is merely to facilitate ease of reservation for those Marathas whose proofs have been submitted.”