Similar rallies have been planned by OBC leaders across the country to demand for their long pending demand.
As the BJP government at the Centre is already reeling under pressure to contain the Dalit's agitations erupted across India, the leaders of other backward caste (OBC) communities have opened another front for them to deal with.
To press for their long pending demand of "quota within quota", the OBC leaders have planned of series of road-shows. One such rally was held on Wednesday in Mumbai, which was attended by hundreds of people. Agitations were held in several districts of UP simultaneously.
"More such rallies are planned across India to keep the pressure on. It's high time that the Modi government implements the sub-categorization of the OBCs recommended by the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) a year and half ago," said Haribhau Rathod, who led the agitation in Mumbai on Wednesday.
The "most backward" communities among the OBCs are seeking division of 27% quota into three equal parts, that is 9% each for "extremely backward", "more backward" and "backward classes". They argue that with the present system 'forward' communities like Yadavs and Kurmis are taking away all quota benefits leaving more needy communities further marginalised, and thus defying the very purpose of the reservation.
Nawab Malik, the NCP leader alleges that such demands have been fuelled by the BJP itself in the past. "After focussing on religious polarisation, the BJP have now set its eye on the caste card. They have been fanning sentiments of backward communities in most states, for instance, Dhangar and Vanjari communities in Maharashtra for poll-gains. However, quota into quota is a tricky issue," said Malik.
Prithviraj Chavan, Congress MLA and former chief minister of Maharashtra says that such "divisive politics" of Dalits and OBCs would eventually boomerang on BJP. "Ruling parties never indulge in such politics. But BJP has been doing it and now situation is going out of their hands. This will undo all their efforts they took in the name of giving respect to Ambedkar to appropriate his legacy," said Chavan.
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