After Maratha and Dalit rallies, Maharashtra witnessed OBC rally on October 3rd. This may sound bizarre, but the rally’s organizers say their aim is to force the state government to release corrupt NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal on bail.
Maharashtra witnessed Maratha community’s silent protest marches in various cities last month. There is no doubt that the state’s population wants quick justice for Kopardi rape and murder victim. They also want the government to make changes in Prevention of Atrocities Act and give reservation to the community. All the silent marches have been conducted peacefully.
In order to counter Maratha Morcha, MIM had organized Dalit-Muslim silent march. They have urged Fadnavis to give special reservations to Muslims and Dalits. They have also demanded the government to keep Prevention of Atrocities Act untouched.
Protest rally to support the corrupt?
After the above two, certain OBC community leaders, along with small outfits, organized their first silent march in Nasik. Around one lakh individuals participated in this rally. During their October 3rd protest march, the OBC council aimed to highlight issues faced by OBC community and also urged the state government to release super corrupt NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal. He is one of the state’s influential OBC leaders and has served as deputy CM, home minister, and minister for public works in the Congress-NCP Government.
The former deputy chief minister is facing several corruption cases. He is in jail because of Maharashtra Sadan scam and a money laundering case. Transactions involved in this particular case are so complex that the government agencies had to rope in private firm to conduct an audit on Bhujbal’s investments, movable, immovable assets. Reports suggest that his overall assets are worth more than Rs 26,000 crores! Bhujbal attracted negative attention for the first time when he was investigated for his role in the famous Telgi stamp paper scam along with NCP chief Sharad Pawar.
The NCP did not openly support the rally, however, its OBC leaders like Jitendra Awhad (Ishrat is innocent fame), and Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council-Dhananjay Munde were part of the rally. Maharashtra Mali Samaj Mahasangh’s Chief Anil Mahajan interacted with journalists and said their next rally will be held on October 20th in Beed.
He also pointed out that their rally is not against Maratha reservation, but it is just to convey that Marathas should not be given quota under OBC category.
OBC council’s state convener professor Shravan Deore interacted with journalists and claimed that Maratha leaders from the state are acting against Bhujbal because of his political importance and image as a national level-OBC leader.
This reminds me of AAP MLA Sandeep Kumar who claimed that people are talking about his sex scandal, and are against him, because he is a Dalit. Is it right to play backward caste card when you are caught committing a crime? Is it right to support a crime suspect just because he belongs to a particular caste?
