A day before the rally of Maratha leaders to up the ante for reservations, backward class leaders met came together to make their stance on reservations clear.
A delegation of backward class leaders across party lines met Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal at the state guesthouse Sahyadri on Saturday. They said reservations demanded by Marathas cannot be included in the Other Backward Class quota.
The issue is tricky and can potentially divide the state especially since backward communities are opposed to their inclusion.
“We have fought for decades to get OBC reservations. Kunbi community, a part of Marathas have been included in OBC quota.
Do the rest really deserve reservation?” asked a member of the delegation.
“I have assured them that the government will tread cautiously on the reservation issue,” said Bhujbal.