The revelation by NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal that he resigned as a minister in November of last year has brought attention to the Maratha quota tightrope the Eknath Shinde-led government is walking amid unrest in OBCs, with the Shiv Sena (UBT) alleging that Bhujbal and BJP are working hand in hand, as reported by news agency PTI.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that Bhujbal’s resignation has not been accepted and suggested that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde would provide clarification. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut dismissed Bhujbal’s disclosure about his resignation as “hogwash.”
Talking to reporters, Fadnavis said, “The chief minister will be able to clarify, but I can only say as of now that Bhujbal’s resignation has not been accepted by the chief minister or me.”
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, in the meantime, wanted to know if Deputy Chief Minister Fadnavis or Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had the power to accept Bhujbal’s resignation. “It has been conventional that those who oppose the chief minister or the government have no right to be a part of it,” he claimed.
“We are of the view that all communities should get their rights but not at the cost of encroaching on others’ rights,” Raut also said.
The Mahayuti government is composed of Shiv Sena led by Shinde, BJP, and the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction).
According to PTI, Raut told reporters on Sunday that Bhujbal claims he resigned from the Cabinet last year but he attended subsequent meetings of the council of ministers.
“It is said that Devendra Fadnavis is behind Bhujbal’s outbursts against the handling of the Maratha quota agitation led by (activist) Manoj Jarange. Both are hand in glove. I will resign but you will not accept it or you resign and we will not accept it,” Raut also claimed.
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Bhujbal Attempting To “Damage” Deputy CMs Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar: Manoj Jarange
Manoj Jarange, a prominent face of the Maratha protests, asserted that Bhujbal was attempting to “damage” Deputy CMs Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar with his statements about the Maratha reservation.
Jarange denied Bhujbal’s claims that falsified and altered documents were being used to obtain the reservation for the Maratha community when speaking with reporters in the Antarwali Sarati village in the Jalna district.
“He (Bhujbal) doesn’t understand anything. There is a law, a government, a committee and scholars working on this issue, but Bhujbal doubts his own government. He is trying to damage Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar,” the activist said, reported PTI.
He added that Bhujbal has made it his practice to harm every political party he associates with. Jarange emphasized that if Bhujbal wishes to resign, he should go ahead, but he shouldn’t speak against the Maratha reservation.
Bhujbal Opposes Maratha Reservation Under OBC Quota
Earlier, Bhujbal accused the state government of allowing the Maratha community to enter the OBC quota through the backdoor by yielding to Jarange’s demands. His criticism intensified after the government issued a draft notification supporting Jarange’s demand for granting Kunbi certificates to blood relatives of Marathas with Kunbi records.
Speaking at an OBC rally in Ahmednagar on Saturday, Bhujbal alluded to the demands made by a few state government and opposition figures to remove him from his position as minister due to his public outbursts about the way the Maratha reservation issue has been handled. “I want to tell leaders from the opposition, government, and my party that ahead of the OBC Elgar rally held in Ambad on November 17, I resigned from the cabinet on November 16 and then went to attend that event.” He also added “There is no need for sacking. I have tendered my resignation. I will fight for the OBCs till the end,” PTI reported.
Additionally, he claimed that he remained silent about the resignation for more than two months at the request of the deputy chief minister and the chief minister. Added that while he was against sharing the current quota for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), he was not against Marathas receiving the reservation.
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