Marathas cannot get OBC quota, says Bhujbal, demands caste census

Veteran OBC leader and Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal has reiterated that the Marathas cannot be given reservation from the quota for the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community.

Talking to reporters on Monday, the state's food and civil supplies minister also renewed his demand for a caste census in the state.

Bhujbal's statement has come amid the stir by quota activists Laxman Hake and Navnath Waghmare, who have been on hunger strike for the last six days.

On Monday, a government delegation met Hake and Waghmare, urging them to end their fast, but they refused.

The agitators said they are not against the reservation for Marathas, but it should not disturb the OBC quota.

Bhujbal said, "The Maratha community cannot be given reservation from the OBC quota. We are not saying this, but the past four commissions (on reservation) have stated the same. Even the Supreme Court said no to it."

Now there is again a demand for reservation from the OBC (quota), he said, referring to the