OBC leaders, MLAs ask for debate on commission’s report

Mumbai: The Other Backward Class (OBC) leaders across the parties are asking for a debate over the report of backward commission. They are asking their party leaders not to rest the matter without discussion, as it will have serious repercussions on their communities. Especially the OBC leaders from Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are pressuring this.

Backward commission has submitted its report to the state government. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has declared that the government accepted all the recommendations of the report. He also said that the government will bring the bill of Maratha Reservation in the house. There are reports of 16 per cent reservation for Maratha will be granted in this session. But this has disturbed the MLAs and MLCs from OBC.

“There is confusion in the OBCs about Maratha reservation. Especially the Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC) category is almost equivalent to OBCs so there should be proper discussion on the report. It should be tabled and discussed on wide range before taking decision on the community. We are pursuing this to party’s state leadership,” said two terms MLA of BJP from Vidarbha.

The BJP has been enjoying the strong support from OBC communities over the years. But as party is giving reservation to Maratha community, it has disturbed many from its original base. “There will be reservation to Maratha community. This won’t be given by cutting share of OBCs but that should come from the house. People believes in house more than anything,” said the same MLA.