Sanjay Raut attacks Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal. Regarding Bhujbal's displeasure over the Maratha reservation dispute, Raut said, if OBC injustice has occurred, then resign. Focus on political statements and cabinet status.
Maharashtra: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has made a significant statement regarding Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal. Following Bhujbal's displeasure over the Maratha reservation issue, Raut stated that if he feels his community has been wronged, he should resign on grounds of morality and self-respect.
Raut alleged that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde attempted to create difficulties for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis by fueling the Maratha reservation movement. He argued that Bhujbal, a prominent leader of the OBC community, himself believes that his community has faced injustice, yet he continues to work under the same Chief Minister whose decisions led to this injustice.
Absence from Cabinet Meeting
Bhujbal had expressed his displeasure on Tuesday regarding a government order (GR) that proposed issuing Kunbi (OBC) caste certificates to eligible Marathas. Bhujbal had also indicated his intention to legally challenge this decision.
Following this, Bhujbal did not attend the cabinet meeting on Wednesday. Sanjay Raut sarcastically remarked on this, stating that it demonstrates Bhujbal's lack of trust in the Chief Minister.
Raut's Message: Resignation is the Solution
Sanjay Raut said that if Bhujbal genuinely cares about his community and believes that injustice has been done to the OBC community, he should resign from the cabinet. Citing historical precedent, he mentioned that former Union Minister C.D. Deshmukh resigned when he had disagreements with the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
Raut asserted that Bhujbal should do the same. If he wishes to fight for the Maratha community, he should make his stance clear by resigning for the sake of morality and self-respect.
Controversy over Maratha Reservation
The issue of Maratha reservation has long been a subject of political and social debate in Maharashtra. The government decided to provide reservation benefits to some eligible Marathas by issuing them OBC caste certificates. This decision led to opposition and support from various leaders and social organizations. Bhujbal did not accept this decision and considered it unjust to his community. His displeasure and absence from the cabinet meeting have escalated political stirrings.
Raut's Allegation: Shinde Increased Difficulties
Sanjay Raut stated that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde hampered the government's functioning by fueling the Maratha reservation movement. He alleged that Shinde deliberately created a tense situation, which led to problems for the Chief Minister and the cabinet.
