Maharashtra LoP Demands Enhanced Security Amidst OBC-Maratha Quota Tension

Mumbai: The conflict between the Maratha and OBC community over the reservation issue got a serious turn after Maharashtra's leader of opposition in the Vidhan Sabha Vijay Wadettiwar, who has opposed giving quota benefits to Marathas under the OBC category, on Monday claimed that he received threat messages.

Wadettiwar, a senior Congress leader and one of the prominent OBC leaders in the state, has written a letter to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis demanding increase in security given to him in the wake of threat messages.

Wadettiwar, who currently has a Y-plus security cover, reportedly received threat calls and messages over his mobile.

While clarifying that OBCs are not against Maratha reservation, the Congress leader has been a staunch opponent of providing reservation to Marathas under the OBC category. He has argued that granting 'Kunbi' certificates to Marathas would be an injustice to the 372 sub-castes under the OBC category.

Wadettiwar has also criticised Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil, who has been demanding Kunbi caste certificates for Marathas so that they can avail benefits under the OBC category. “There is a plot to wipe out the OBC quota through backdoor entry of Marathas,” he said.

However, Jarange Patil has hit back at Wadettiwar accusing the latter of neglecting the poor and downtrodden. He questioned Wadettiwar's motives, alleging opposition interference despite records confirming their cause.