Bhujbal demands country wide caste census

Mumbai: Senior Maharashtra OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Monday demanded caste based census. Mr. Bhujbal said he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard as the caste based census will reveal the exact percentage of OBC, SCs and STs. He also claimed that Marathas cannot be given reservations under OBC category.

Mr. Bhujbal’s demand may further escalate the rift between the OBCs and Maratha community ahead of Maharashtra Assembly election.

Mr. Bhujbal, who is a senior leader from Ajit Pawar-led NCP, held a meeting of executive members of ‘Samata Parishad’ (an OBC organisation formed by him) in Mumbai to review the debacle of Mahayuti - comprising BJP, Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena and NCP. In the recently concluded Lok Sabha election, the Maratha reservation issue had damaged the BJP-led Mahayuti.

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange has demanded reservation from the OBC quota, which all parties and OBC bodies have opposed.

The senior NCP leader said that since Narendra Modi has again become the Prime Minister, he is going to demand a caste based census in the country. If the central government accepts the demands, it would have a positive impact in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly election, Bhujbal claimed.

“We are going to demand the caste based census from him (the Prime Minister). If it is conducted, the issues of the OBC reservation will be clarified. It will not only reveal the exact population but also the current situation of the OBCs. As a result, the OBC will get funds from the central government like the SCs and STs. To this end, the caste census should be done,” said Mr. Bhujbal.

The NCP leader said the caste based census in the state will not be beneficial and it should be done at the national level. “We discussed how to get the funds from the centre in the meeting of Samata Parishad. If the central government takes a decision for caste based census, we will welcome it as it will reveal the correct number (data) of each community,” said the senior OBC leader.

Mr. Bhujbal also said that OBCs have been opposing the inclusion of Marathas under OBC category. “Four commissions headed by high court judges have made it clear that Maratha community cannot be given reservation under OBC category. They (Maratha quota leaders) are now again making the same demand. If any OBCs are being treated unfairly, we will take appropriate steps in this regard,” he said.