Bombay: Caste-consciousness is on the rise in Maharashtra, several caste associations have sprung up and are asserting their identity and demanding a better deal. Several caste associations held their meetings recently and many more are scheduled. Some of these meetings have demanded implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations. Those which held there. meetings recently were, the Nhavis (barber), the Malis (horticulturists). the Wangari’s (Banjaras) and the Marathas. The barbers meeting, held in the Sant Sena Hall, named after the saint from the barber community, was attended by Shankar Rao Jagtap, a former speaker of the Maharashtra assembly. At a meeting of the mall community in Nashik, the Bombay mayor and Shiv Sena leader, Chhagana Bhujbal, supported the Mandal commission report despite Bal Thackeray’s avowed opposition to caste-based reservations. Janardhan Patt, president of the Maharashtra Other Backward Class Sanghatana, said Bhujbal was under pressure from the community to declare his support to the Mandal report.
Shiva Sena breaks: Several Shiv Sena members enthusiastically attend pro-Mandal rallies convened by other parties and do not protest when the Sena chief Bal Thackeray is criticized for his anti-Mandal stance. The Congress and the JD (S) are wooing the Wanjari community as the state BJP president, Gopinath Mundhe, is emerging as a leader of the caste. At another rally last week, the Maratha Mahasangh declared its support to the Mandal report defying opposition from aristocratic Marathas. Though the Mahasangh Is generally seen to be pro-Congress, V.P. Singh was praised at the meeting for his commitment to the Mandal report. The Maratha organization has now reversed Its earlier stand of opposing the Mandal. The Kunbi Marathas held another conference under the leadership of the former Congress MP. Shyam Rao Peje. Janardan Patil, the OBC leader, said there was an overwhelming response to the Mandal commission report at two meetings recently, one organized by the Agri community and another by the blacksmith, goldsmith, shilpakar and carpenter communities at the Kitte Bhandari community hall. He said he was receiving invitations daily from various caste organizations to address meetings. Another meeting of the Sonar (goldsmith) community is to be held at Ulhasnagar on Dec. 23. The Yadav community will be meeting at Dadar also on the same day. The Mall community gathering is to take place next month. Prof Nalini Pandit, a social scientist, said the upper castes like Brahmins, Saraswat Brahmins, Pathare Prabhus and CKPs had set up their organizations in the 19th century. She said it was now understandable that the other castes want to have their own bodies. (Times of India, Dec.6.]
