Chhagan Bhujbal On Devendra Fadnavis: The politics in the state has heated up once again over the issue of Maratha reservation. After Manoj Jarange Patil's protest at Azad Maidan, the government accepted some demands and issued a GR. However, senior minister Chhagan Bhujbal from the government has expressed dissatisfaction with this decision and has indirectly targeted Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
In a press conference in Nashik, Bhujbal said, “I respect Fadnavis. His intentions are good. But there is confusion in the drafting of the GR. In the first GR, it was stated that eligible persons should be given Kunbi certificates. But now the word 'eligible' has been removed. This has increased the confusion. There is a difference between relatives and relationships, but where is its definition?” he questioned.
At this time, Bhujbal took a clear stance, stating, “The Maratha community is not backward. Many commissions have recorded this. Since 1955, this community has been considered advanced. Many chief ministers have come from this community. Yet, the demand for a backward certificate is unfortunate. It is wrong to gain entry into OBCs based on false certificates.”
He further said, “The Shinde Committee conducted an in-depth study for two years, examining over 47,000 records and issued more than two lakh certificates. Still, the issue of the Hyderabad Gazette is being brought up. This is a result of political pressure. Such a method is not appropriate for determining social backwardness.”
Bhujbals demanded the immediate removal of ambiguity on the GR. "This decision was made without discussion in the cabinet. Reservation cannot be granted based on an affidavit on the word 'Kul'. This GR can create tension. The government should remove the ambiguity, otherwise, it should withdraw the GR," he warned.
He also criticized Manoj Jarange Patil's method of protest. "There is democracy in the country, not Jarangeshahi. The OBC community is also now taking out marches. Decisions should be made within the framework given by the Constitution. It is not appropriate to make decisions under the pressure of protests," he said.