CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: Adding a fresh twist to the Maratha-OBC quota issue, Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange on Sunday said Muslims and other community members, including Brahmins, who have Kunbi records should get OBC quota benefits, like Marathas. The statement comes at a time the state govt is trying to appease Marathas by providing those with Kunbi records OBC quota, while OBC activists are up in arms demanding that OBC quota shouldn’t be disturbed.
This is likely to add a fresh challenge to Mahayuti govt as BJP has consistently opposed quota for minorities, while its partner Ajit Pawar-led NCP has been backing quota for Muslims in education. In 2015, the Devendra Fadnavis govt had scrapped the 5% quota granted to Muslims by the previous Congress-NCP govt.
“Muslims, Marwaris, Lingayats, Brahmins and others with Kunbi records have the right to the reservation. It is up to the members of those communities to decide if they want to avail of the quota benefits or not. However, it is legitimate to give them the benefit of reservation,” Jarange said, adding that Kunbi records of lohar (blacksmith) and kumbhar (potter) communities have also surfaced.
Claiming that he is firm on getting OBC reservation for “eligible” Muslims, Jarange told reporters in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar that the govt has to offer quota to the minority community at any cost.
Reacting to this fresh demand, OBC activist Laxman Hake said the Muslim community does not have a social hierarchy like the Hindu community does.
Source Agencies
