Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange and the government seem to be singing different tunes when it comes to issuing Other Backward Classes (OBC) caste certificates to the Marathas of Marathwada.
Jarange has claimed that based on the Hyderabad gazette, all Marathas of the region will get OBC caste certificates. However, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has made it clear that even if someone gives an affidavit, he or she will have to attach a record of Kunbi lineage to get the certificate. In fact, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, too, has been reiterating that only those who will prove their OBC lineage will be issued certificates.
On Wednesday, Bawankule chaired the OBC sub-committee’s maiden meeting held at Mantralaya. Speaking with the media after the meeting, Bawankule claimed that the meeting was not called merely to discuss solutions to the Maratha and OBC row. The senior OBC leader explained that other issues like OBC student scholarship, funds to build OBC hostels, and government buildings, too, were discussed.
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange breaks his fast at Azad Maidan on September 2. PIC/SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI
“Student scholarship amount pending is Rs 1200 crore. The total budgeted amount of R3800 crore will be taken up for discussion during the coming session of the state legislature (read as Winter Session that is held at Nagpur),” Bawankule said.
The minister asserted that there are several central and state government welfare schemes for the community. “To develop a mechanism that will ensure that information about these schemes and benefits reaches every last person of the community was also discussed in the meeting,” the senior BJP leader added.
Asked about, member of the committee, Chhagan Bhujbal being unhappy with the latest Government Resolution (GR) on the Maratha reservation, Bawankule assured that OBC reservation will not be affected due to the government’s decision. “Not everyone will get the caste certificate. Anyone who applies for the certificate will have to give an affidavit. But, along with the affidavit, the person will have to provide some proof of past OBC lineage of kin,” Bawankule clarified.
But Jarange has been claiming the other way round. “All Marathas from the Marathwada region, and based on the Hyderabad gazette, will get the certificates,” the Maratha activists said. The difference in the government and Jarange’s claims has brought confusion over the outcome of the ongoing Maratha-OBC reservation row.
First OBC sub-committee meets
In the maiden meeting of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) sub-committee, panel member Chhagan Bhujbal strongly expressed his displeasure with the latest Government Resolution (GR) on Maratha reservation. Bhujbal allegedly stated that if the GR isn’t withdrawn or amended, there would be no choice but to challenge the document in court.
Last week, during the state cabinet meeting, the government formed a nine-member cabinet sub-committee to look into education and social issues concerning OBC. Revenue Minister and senior BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule has been appointed head of the sub-committee. Pankaja Munde, Ganesh Naik, Atul Save, Dattatray Bharne, Sanjay Rathod, Gulabrao Patil, and Bhujbal are members of the committee. Besides these ministers, a bureaucrat has been appointed as secretary.
Rs 1,200 cr
Student scholarship amount that is pending
