OBC activists call off hunger strike after meeting with ministers | Mumbai News

Mumbai: Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota activists Laxman Hake and Navnath Waghmare on Saturday called off their indefinite hunger strike after a delegation of ministers visited the protest site in Wadigodri village in Jalna district and handed over a written memorandum assuring that their demands would be met. Hake and Waghmare, however, said the protest was only on hold and would not be called off until the state government issues a white paper on reservation for Marathas, even as scattered protests were reported from other parts of the state. Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil alleged that the protests by the OBC quota activists were staged by the ruling coalition.

Saturday marked the tenth day of the indefinite hunger strike by Hake and Waghamare against the state government’s announcement of issuing Kunbi certificates to blood relatives or ‘sage soyare’ of the Marathas. The OBC activists alleged that this would pave the way for backdoor entry of the Marathas into the OBC quota. Their demands included scrapping of the 5.4 million Kunbi-related documents, stopping issuance of Kunbi certificates, linking Kunbi certificates with Aadhar and not issuing the final notification on reservations until all suggestions and objections were considered.

The delegation that met Hake and Waghmare on Saturday included state minister and OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal, ministers Girish Mahajan, Atul Save and Uday Samant, BJP leader Gopichand Padalkar and former MP Ramesh Shendge. Bhujbal, who led the delegation, said the government has decided to link Kunbi certificates with Aadhar and take action against officials issuing fake certificates.

“Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has also called a meeting to discuss issues related to the OBCs. The state government must respond to this assurance, otherwise we will join the protest next time,” Bhujbal said. He also demanded a caste-based survey of the OBCs to ensure that the community gets its rightful share of reservations.

After meeting the delegation, Hake said, “Barring a few exceptions, the state government has responded positively to our demands. We are happy that they have decided to link Kunbi certificates with Aadhar to prevent their misuse. The government has also announced the setting up of a Cabinet sub-committee to discuss issues related to the OBC community. We are not very convinced by the announcement of action against officials who issued fake Kunbi certificates. We are suspending the protest for now, but not permanently. We want the government to issue a white paper on the status of the reservation process (for Marathas). After that, we will decide on the further course of action.”

Reacting to the developments, Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil said the state government was creating a conflict between the two communities, which could lead to unrest in the state.

“Bhujbal is behind the agitation of the OBC activists and if there is unrest, he will be responsible for it. I request OBCs and Dhangars not to fall for this instigation because the politicians behind these actions have nothing to lose. Ultimately, it is the poor who will suffer,” said Jarange-Patil.

He also opposed the decision to stop issuing Kunbi certificates until the examination was completed. “We have been given reservations as OBCs since 1871, on the basis of historical evidence of our backwardness. We are not encroaching on anyone’s share,” he said.

Bhujbal hit back, saying OBCs would not fight with anyone even if threatened. “We do not want to engage in confrontation with anyone. But that does not mean we are afraid,” he said.

Meanwhile, scattered protests by OBC activists were reported from several places in the state on Saturday. In Beed, the Ahmednagar highway was blocked by burning tyres, while in Khilad village in the same district, OBC activists shaved their heads to press the state government to meet their demands. Bandhs were also held in some parts of Marathwada in support of the indefinite hunger strike of Hake and Waghmare.

Amid rising tensions between the two communities, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the government would ensure that there was no caste-based tension in the state.