Set up CMO in Jarange's hometown, says Bhujbal

NASHIK: OBC leader and state cabinet minister

Chhagan Bhujbal

on Friday advised the state government to build bungalows housing the

CMO

in the hometown of

Maratha quota

activist

Manoj Jarange

amid a flurry of visits by various state ministers.
"The bungalows can be used as offices of the chief minister and the chief secretary. Some of the ministers can also function from there.

This arrangement will be suitable as ministers will then not be required to travel frequently to meet Jarange on the Maratha reservation issue," Bhujbal told TOI.
In the last few days, two delegations of state ministers, led by Girish Mahajan, had travelled to Marathwada and met Jarange to seek more time to meet his Maratha quota demand.
Bhujbal said he was 'happy' that Jarange's demands on Maratha reservation were only growing.

The state cabinet minister added: "I would also advise the government to take orders from Jarange not only on matters related to reservation, but also on other issues like law and order, farmers' problems and education, among others.
The government can issue a GR to this effect immediately. It will only make Jarange happy."
Bhujbal's close aides said the minister was 'irked' with the state government over its attempts to placate Jarange on the Maratha quota issue.

Jarange has turned down the state government's request for more time to resolve the Maratha quota issue.
"The way this government is dealing with Jarange, it seems there are no other communities in Maharashtra. We must remember that the OBC community constitutes 54% of the state's population," Bhujbal said.
He said he held a meeting with chief minister Eknath Shinde on the reservation issue during the recently concluded assembly session in Nagpur.
"I made it clear to the CM that I will not dilute my stand on the quota issue. I reiterated that the OBC quota must not get hampered if the Marathas are given reservation within the OBC's share. It is for the state government to find a solution to the issue," Bhujbal said.
He added that he told the CM that he was not against reservation to Marathas, but it must not be at the cost of the OBC community.