NEW DELHI: Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil announced that the “sage soyare” (blood relatives) of those identified as Kunbis will also receive Kunbi certificates.
This comes amid opposition from some OBC leaders to granting these certificates to Marathas. Patil emphasized that both OBC and Maratha communities must understand the notification on “sage soyare” will not harm anyone’s interests.An all-party meeting is scheduled on Monday to address the issue.
Activist Manoj Jarange, who recently ended his indefinite fast, has been advocating for the implementation of a draft notification that acknowledges Kunbis as “sage soyare” of Marathas. He is pushing for Kunbi certificates to be issued to all Marathas, allowing them access to quota benefits. The Kunbi community, primarily agrarian, falls under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.
Minister Patil clarified, “Those whose records are found (as Kunbis) will be given Kunbi certificates. The sage soyare of those who get Kunbi certificate will also get (Kunbi) certificate.”
Last month, OBC activists Laxman Hake and Navnath Waghmare held a hunger strike for 10 days, demanding the draft notification granting Kunbi certificates to Marathas be revoked. They argue that the OBC quota should remain undiluted. Their hunger strike was a direct counter to Jarange’s demands for OBC category reservation for Marathas.
Patil noted that Chief minister Eknath Shinde, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis, have been engaging in discussions with representatives from both communities.