CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: Reservation activist Manoj Jarange on Tuesday claimed that some OBC leaders were conspiring against Maratha youth by framing false charges related to arson and violence during the recent quota agitation.Without naming Maharashtra cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who visited the violence-hit area of Beed district on Monday, Jarange said OBC leaders were pressurising the police to link Maratha youth with the violence."It is a conspiracy to demoralize the Maratha youth and dissuade them from taking part in future agitations. They want to erase our caste and want our youth to remain backward," he said.Jaranges comment comes a day after cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal said he would not think twice to oppose the state government to protect the OBC communitys interests. The senior NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) had taken a dig at the state government, of which his party is an alliance, on its handling of activist Jaranges agitation demanding Kunbi certificates for the entire Maratha community. "We have no problem to include the Marathas as Kunbis with records dating back to the Nizam era. However, it will be ridiculous to include all the Marathas in the OBC community. We will oppose any such backdoor entry of the Marathas into the OBC category," Bhujbal had said. Jarange said, "Maratha leaders from all parties should take note of conspiracy against the youths from their community. Maratha youth were not behind the violence in Beed or any other place. We suspect that the ruling parties are trying to tarnish our agitation. Some outside elements, projected as Maratha agitators, were responsible for the violence." The activist, who had announced a fresh state-wide tour for the cause of Maratha reservation after calling off his hunger strike, said he would soon make public details of the proposed tour. He has set December 24 as the deadline for the state government to fulfil the demand for Maratha quota.

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