The state government is now trying to woo the largest community in the state — Maratha — by promising it the Other Backward Class (OBC) status.
After a meeting with leaders of the community today, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh told the media:
“The state government’s view on including the Maratha community in the OBC category is sympathetic and gives justice to the community.”
He also appealed to the community leaders not to resort to any agitation on this issue as the state was examining the legal and other aspects of the dem-and.
However, a senior NCP minister, who belongs to an OBC community, cautioned the state government: “If the state government tries to bulldoze this issue, then it will have to face a backlash from the other OBC castes.”
“The state government’s attempt to push the issue in its fourth year of office clearly shows it is nothing but a move to divert people’s attention from issues like power cuts and crumbling urban infrastructure,” said a senior BJP leader.