Census: Bhujbal,Munde seek OBC headcount

Munde said while the Rajya Sabha has approved the Women’s Reservation Bill giving 33 per cent reservation to women,he personally felt both Parliament and Assembly should reserve seats for OBC women. “I will strongly support this and make a demand from my party,” he said.

Sharing the same dais,Bhujbal supported Munde’s demand but stressed the need for a separate Bill for OBC reservation in Parliament and Legislative Assembly. “While changes are being made now in the law,why not introduce a separate bill for reservation for OBCs. I have already written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and NCP chief Sharad Pawar on the issue,” he said.

Both Bhujbal and Munde pressed for a separate head-count of OBCs in the population census. They said from 1872 till 1941,OBCs were counted separately but after that,their identity was merged in the general category. “The Centre fears they will have to extend reservation to OBCs from the current 27 per cent as our population has increased. We are no more 41 per cent of the population but represent 52 per cent now,” he said. Both said they would write to the Central government to count OBCs as a separate category.

Make Bhujbal OBC movement leader: Munde
Though from a rival party,BJP leader Gopinath Munde said Chhagan Bhujbal would be the right leader for the OBC movement. “I am willing to fight for the cause under Bhujbal’s leadership. He is a national leader and people come in lakhs to hear him,” he said. Other leaders also demanded to make Bhujbal the first Chief Minister of the state from the OBCs.