OBC leaders threaten stir against GR on Maratha quota; Bhujbal to move court

The Maratha reservation row escalated on Wednesday (September 3, 2025) with OBC leaders threatening State-wide protests and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Minister Chhagan Bhujbal declaring he would move court against the Maharashtra government’s decision to issue Kunbi caste certificates to eligible Marathas.

The controversy stems from a Government Resolution (GR) issued by the Social Justice and Special Assistance Department on Tuesday, enabling Marathas with documentary proof of Kunbi lineage to claim OBC benefits. The move came amid activist Manoj Jarange Patil’s five-day hunger strike in Mumbai, which he ended after the State accepted six of his eight demands.

Also read | Behind Maratha quota issue resolution, a climbdown by both the Mahayuti government and the activist

Mr. Bhujbal, a prominent OBC leader, skipped both the Cabinet meeting and a separate NCP meeting convened by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. “OBC leaders have doubts about the GR, about who really won after Mr. Jarange’s agitation. We are seeking legal opinion on whether the government is even authorised to change people’s caste. I will personally approach the court,” he told reporters.

The GR states that “in accordance with the historical references contained in the Hyderabad gazetteer, a dedicated scrutiny process shall be conducted to verify documents and establish the eligibility of persons from the Maratha community for Kunbi caste certificates.”

However, the move has sparked fierce backlash from OBC leaders and activists. Laxman Hake accused the government of illegally granting OBC benefits to Marathas, bypassing repeated rejections by the Supreme Court, the Central Backward Commission, and the State Backward Commission. “This is contempt of court and a threat to the reservation system,” Mr. Hake said, urging OBC and Vimukt Jati and Nomadic Tribes communities to “unite and take to the streets”.

He also alleged that senior political figures, including Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule, and Ajit Pawar’s MLA,s supported Mr. Jarange’s movement to “erode OBC quotas”.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde defended the government’s decision, saying it was “strictly in accordance with the law” and that no injustice had been done to other communities. He added that CM Devendra Fadnavis would personally speak to Mr. Bhujbal to address his concerns.

Amid the political storm, the Bombay High Court asked Mr. Jarange and other organisers to clarify their stand on allegations of large-scale damage to public property and injuries to police during the agitation. The Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Aarti Sathe directed that Mr. Jarange and organisers submit affidavits within four weeks, noting, “Who will take care of this? Who will pay for the damage?”

Mr. Jarange’s counsel denied the allegations and insisted that no property was damaged and that photos in circulation were “old images”.