Either conduct caste census or declare that OBCs comprise 51%: Bhujbal

NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal mobilizes OBCs after being denied a ministerial post, demanding a caste census and opposing Maratha inclusion in OBCs.

MUMBAI: NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who has been upset ever since he was denied a minister’s post in the state cabinet, has begun aggressively mobilising OBCs through various social organisations, including his own Mahatma Phule Samata Parishad. On Sunday, while attending a gathering of youths from the Mali community, Bhujbal complained that the fighting spirit of OBCs had declined and also demanded either a countrywide caste census or a declaration from the Indian government that OBCs comprised 51% of India’s population.

Either conduct caste census or declare that OBCs comprise 51%: Bhujbal

Even after Bhujbal won in the assembly election, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar excluded the veteran politician—who is not just the seniormost leader in his party but also the OBC face—from the cabinet. Bhujbal has been stewing ever since and has expressed his displeasure several times in the last one month. Now he is concentrating his energies on mobilising his caste brethren.

On Sunday Bhujbal attended the Mali community gathering at Shegaon in Buldhana district and raised his voice. “There is a lot of injustice against OBCs,” he said. “I too have suffered much injustice. But I fight for OBCs. I stand against the inclusion of the Maratha community in the OBC category. I have been demanding a caste census since 2016. Either do that or declare that OBCs are 51% of India’s population.”

The Samata Parishad, an OBC organisation that works under the leadership of Bhujbal, has been holding meetings in Marathwada. On Sunday, at a meeting, it was decided to open branches of the organisation in every village and ensure that there was one member in every OBC home.