Pune: State cabinet minister NCP’s Chhagan Bhujbal has opposed the Chalo Mumbai protest rally on Sept 1 organised by OBC activists to safeguard the existing reservation quota and counter Maratha activist Manoj Jarange’s agitation starting Aug 29, in an evident surfacing of differences among community leaders.OBC activist Laxman Hake and others said if more members of Maratha community were given kunbi certificates, they would be eligible for reservation under the OBC category leading to an adverse impact.Bhujbal said, “Jarange’s agitation is against the state and not the OBC community. The govt is tackling the issue at its level and we should not get into it.”Some OBC activists expressed shock at the minister’s stand since he was one of the prominent politicians who took on Jarange and started a parallel agitation claiming that OBC community would have to stand united to safeguard their existing quota. However, he has now said Jarange’s agitation would not affect OBC reservation.OBC activists have opposed Bhujbal’s view and said the protest would be held as per plan. Hake said, “I was shocked to hear Bhujbal’s statement. The state govt has already distributed over 22 lakh kunbi certificates. The existing OBC share of reservation will keep reducing, if so many Maratha community members enter into OBC category.”Meanwhile, activists were meeting OBC members in different districts to garner support for the Sept 1 agitation. “If we keep quiet now, the Maratha community members’ share in the OBC quota will increase and existing OBCs will lose their representation in various fields. Therefore, we will go ahead with the protest,” Hake added.
