MUMBAI: The escalating Maratha reservation policy has spared no one, neither the ruling parties nor the opposition. Maratha activists are storming meetings and rallies of all political parties and demanding that their leaders make clear their stand on reservation for the community. Building on this, NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Sunday asked the parties to take a clear stand on OBC reservation as well.
The latest case of Maratha activism occurred on Sunday when a group of slogan-haunting activists marched into a Congress meeting in Nanded and demanded that politicians like Nana Patole and Ramesh Chennithala clarify their stand on the reservation issue. Earlier in the morning, another group had stopped NCP founder Sharad Pawar’s convoy and questioned him about his stand. Later, several activists shouted slogans and raised black flags at Pawar’s rally.
The ruling Mahayuti alliance had to bear the brunt of Maratha anger in the Lok Sabha elections, losing seats notably in Marathwada and Western Maharashtra. Now, as the assembly elections draw near, several Maratha groups comprising members of various political parties have stepped up their agitation and turned their guns against both the ruling and opposition alliance.
The clashes began on August 5 when a local group from Dharashiv entered the hotel where Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray was staying and demanded that he clarify his stand on Maratha reservation. Thackeray, who was on a tour of Marathwada, had questioned the need for a reservation system in Solapur a few hours earlier. When he entered Beed town on August 8, local activists shouted slogans and pelted suparis or betel nuts at him, inferring that he was just a contractual or supari politician indirectly helping the Mahayuti alliance.
Later, on the evening of August 10, another group questioned BJP MP Ashok Chavan when he was addressing a public meeting in Mugat village in Nanded district. “How long do we have to wait for reservation?” they asked. “We will cooperate with you in the assembly elections only if we get the benefits of reservation immediately.” Chavan tried to convince them by saying that he supported reservation and also had respect for its leader Manoj Jarange-Patil.
On Sunday morning, a group of Maratha activists led by local MNS leader Sagar Lokare stopped Sharad Pawar’s car in Kurduvadi when he was on his way to Barshi for a rally. “Do you support Maratha reservation and the demand for Maratha reservation in OBC quota?” asked Lokare. Pawar replied that he supported Maratha reservation and immediately left the spot. Later, while addressing the rally, one activist waved a black flag and another, Babasaheb Barkool, doused himself with petrol. Police immediately arrested both of them.
Congress leaders too were under pressure at the party’s divisional meeting in Nanded on Sunday afternoon. State Congress MP Ramesh Chennithala, state president Nana Patole and senior politicians Balasaheb Thorat and Vijay Wadettiwar were present on the dais when a group of Maratha activists entered the hall. Police tried to stop them but they forcefully entered, reached the dais and shouted slogans demanding that Congress leaders clarify the party’s stand on Maratha reservation. After Chennithala had a brief discussion with them and said that the Congress supported it, the activists calmed down and left.
Speaking on the Maratha reservation issue, NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Sunday said that all political parties must clarify their stand on OBC reservation at the OBC Arakshan Bachao Mahaelgar rally in Sangli. He warned the parties not to forget that the OBCs constitute 54% of the population and stated that it was impossible to give reservation to the Marathas in the OBC quota.
“Not all Marathas are bad, but don’t spare those who want to cut OBC reservation,” he said. “CM Eknath Shinde and DCMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis have already said that OBC quota will not be touched. Go and ask MVA leaders Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray if they are ready to give OBC reservation to the Marathas.”
Bhujbal also said that now everyone wants to become Kunbi (a Maratha sub-caste that gets reservation benefits in the OBC category) to get reservation benefits. “Will there be Marathas left in the state then?” he said sarcastically. Bhujbal also criticised Maratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patil for declaring that his people will contest 288 seats in the assembly elections. “Let him win at least eight seats in the assembly elections,” he said.
The OBC leader also criticised Jarange-Patil and his men for abusing leaders who refused to speak as they wished and for their attacks on the OBCs in villages. He also demanded a caste census to ascertain the population of each community.
