Opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar has called for urgent action from either Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde or his deputies to visit Chandrapur within the next two days to engage with an OBC leader who has been on a hunger strike since September 11.
The activist, Ravindra Tonge, a member of the Rashtriya Other Backward Classes (OBC) Mahasangh, is protesting against any potential inclusion of Marathas in the OBC category.
Wadettiwar stressed the need for the state government to provide a written assurance to OBC leaders regarding the exclusion of Marathas from the OBC category and seek a resolution to this contentious issue.
Speaking to reporters following a rally organized in Chandrapur to oppose the inclusion of Marathas in the OBC category, the Congress leader urged the central government to introduce a constitutional amendment addressing the existing 50% reservation ceiling, thus resolving the quota issue.
Wadettiwar revealed that the Congress Working Committee (CWC) recently passed a resolution advocating an increase in the upper limit of reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs should the party assume power. He emphasized, “Either the chief minister or the two deputy chief ministers should visit Chandrapur to engage with OBC leaders and appeal to the activist to end his hunger strike within two days.”
This hunger strike follows Maratha activist Manoj Jarange’s 16-day protest, which concluded on September 14 after CM Eknath Shinde assured him of Marathas being granted Kunbi status, effectively including them under the OBC quota. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has clarified that while providing reservation to the Maratha community, the existing OBC quota will not be compromised.