Amid the ongoing agitation by Maratha community members seeking reservations in educations and jobs, people from Other Backward Class (OBC) community flexed their muscles on Monday, by taking out a massive morcha in support of incarcerated senior NCP leader and former Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal at Nashik in north Maharashtra.
Apart from “condemning” the efforts to decimate the OBC leadership, the protesters, belonging to various organizations with in the community, put up a show of strength by shouting vociferous slogans like “Nava Parva, OBC Sarva”( New Era, it is all OBC) .
Prominent among those present at the rally were leader of Opposition in Maharashtra legislative Council Dhananjay Munde and former minister Jitendra Awhad, both of the NCP. The protesters were among other things displaying posters showing late BJP leader Gopinath Munde and Bhujbal that read thus: “Had Munde been alive, Bhujbal would have not been victimized in a manner as he is today”.
Though the morcha taken out at Nashik was ostensibly to express support to support to Chhagan Bhujbal who is currently behind the bars in connection with the much-discussed money laundering scam, the rally was an effort to consolidate OBC community in the state in the face of the massive “silent” morchas being organized by Marathas in various parts of the state.
The support being galvanised for 68-year-old Bhujbal is being seen in the light of the fact that he continues to be the most popular and senior most OBC leader in the state. Through their agitation, the OBC community members are not trying to moblise sympathy for Bhujbal by seeking to create an impression among the people that their leader is being victimised, but are also trying to make him a focal point of their agitation. The protesters demanded the immediate release of Bhujbal who has been behind the bars for more than six months now.
Bhujbal, who is also founder-President of Akhil Bhartiya Mahatma Phule Samata Parishad, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 14 this year in connection with two money laundering cases registered against him his family members and associates. He and his nephew Sameer are currently lodged at the Arthur Road prison.
Bhujbals and their associates are being investigated by the Maharashtra’s Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB), which had filed a charge-sheet against Sr Bhujbal, Sameer and 15 others in the new Maharashtra Sadan scam case in February this year.
On March 30 this year, the ED filed a 11,500—page charge sheet against Chhagan Bhujbal, his son Pankaj, nephew Sameer, corporate houses like D B Realty, Balwa group of companies, Neelkamal Realtors and Builders Private limited, Neelkamal Central Apartment llP and Kakade Infrastructure, in the money laundering case.
Bhujbal’s importance as an influential OBC leader in the state should be gauged from the fact that late BJP leader Gopinath Munde – who was the face of OCB in his party -- had one stage stated that he was ready to work under the leadership of Bhujbal on the OBC reservation issue.
Following her late father suit, Maharashtra Women and Child Development Minister *Pankaja Munde had created a stir in the state political circles a fortnight ago, by calling on the ailing Bhujbal at the state-run JJ Hospital. Her meeting with Bhujbal had sparked speculation about the possible coming together of Other Backward Class (OBC) leaders in the state, in the backdrop of the protest rallies being organised by the dominant Maratha community.