Mumbai: OBC leader and Minister of Food and Civil Supply Chhagan Bhujbal on Tuesday slammed BJP for politicizing the cancellation of 27% political reservation for the OBC community in local self-government. Bhujbal targeted former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for his outburst against the Maha Vikas Aghadi government and alleged that he was misleading the people. He also blamed the Centre for the loss of political reservation by OBCs.
He said CM Uddhav Thackeray has convened a special meeting to explore various options to restore the 27% quota.
Bhujbal said, ‘’The central government has not submitted the census data related to OBCs in the state to the court. The state government was making repeated requests for the same. Data of OBC community is solely available with the Central Government.’’
He reiterated that despite the state government’s repeated pleas, the Centre did not submit OBC census data in the court.
Bhujbal’s comment came days after the Supreme Court rejected the review petition filed by the state government against its order scrapping the 27% quota, especially in tribal-dominated Washim, Akola, Nagpur and Bhandara local self-government.
Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Vijay Wadettiwar has made a fresh demand for a separate census of OBCs in the state.
However, Fadnavis has held the MVA government responsible for the cancellation of 27% quota for OBCs in the local bodies.
Wadettiewar said Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is expected to clear a file pertaining to the formation of a Commission for OBCs to undertake a district wise census of the OBCs. A delegation of OBC leaders will soon meet Thackeray to discuss the fallout of the apex court order and measures to be taken to provide justice to the OBCs. He added that he will soon file a complaint against the threatening calls made to OBC leaders.
