Chhagan Bhujbal, cabinet minister in the Mahayuti government of Maharashtra and a prominent OBC leader of the state, has demanded a caste census. Chhagan Bhujbal has said in an interview that the central government has crossed the 50 percent limit by giving 10 percent independent reservation to the economically weaker sections. In such a situation, the Central Government can also solve the Maratha reservation. He said that the decision on Maratha reservation is completely in the hands of the Central Government. Chhagan Bhujbal is a leader of NPC and he is currently in Ajit Pawar’s camp. Recently, he had created a sensation by saying that NCP supremo Sharad Pawar had asked him to be in front of the Delhi Government and Maharashtra Government. Bhujbal had also said that he had advised him to take as many ministerial posts as possible. Now Bhujbal has said that the solution to Maratha reservation lies in the hands of the Central Government. Along with this, he has also demanded caste census in Maharashtra on the lines of Bihar.
Maharashtra Food and Urban Development Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said in ‘Loksatta’ program that only the central government can solve the problem of reservation by increasing the reservation for the Maratha community by 10-12 percent. He also clarified that his earlier demand that caste-wise census should be conducted in Maharashtra as well as Bihar still stands. Bhujbal openly expressed his views on the issues like the ongoing movement regarding Maratha reservation, the plan to give Kunbi certificate to the Maratha community in Marathwada, the reaction of the OBC community on Maratha reservation, etc. Bhujbal said that the Maratha Reservation Act could not stand in the Supreme Court. Bhujbal asked whether the same law should be made again? So on this Bhujbal said that we do not want to advance the reservation of OBC, then how to give reservation to the Maratha community? No one is against Maratha reservation. Bhujbal argued that the reservation should be given without affecting the OBC reservation. Bhujbal said that initially the Bombay High Court had accepted the Maratha Reservation Act that reservation could be given.
Bhujbal reiterated the demand that caste-wise census should be conducted to resolve the reservation issues of all communities. We have already demanded this from the central government. From the caste wise census you will know what is your population. He argued that like Bihar and some other states, caste-wise census should be conducted in Maharashtra also. Rohini Commission has submitted its report to the President regarding classification under OBC, when asked about it, he took the stand that at least 27 per cent full reservation should be given to OBCs in all the states. In order to calm the atmosphere, Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis apologized for the lathi charge in Jalna. Bhujbal also said that there is no point in apologizing to establish peace.
