Former Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde said that the Maharashtra government should appoint a committee to give ST status to the Banjara community. It is part of the ST segment in many states, including Rajasthan and Telangana
Dhananjay Munde on Monday said the Banjara community should be given ST status. File Pic
Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Dhananjay Munde on Monday said that the Banjara community should be given Scheduled Tribe status in Maharashtra like some other states, reported the PTI.
He was addressing a rally held in Beed by the community seeking ST status under the Hyderabad Gazette, which leaders claimed is being used to give Kunbi certificates to Marathas following the agitation by activist Manoj Jarange.
The Banjara community is part of the Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT) segment in Maharashtra.
According to the PTI, Dhananjay Munde said, "The Maharashtra government should appoint a committee to give ST status to the Banjara community. It is part of the ST segment in many states, including Rajasthan and Telangana."
Dhananjay Munde, a former minister who quit in March this year following a furore after his close aide Walmik Karad was held in the Santosh Deshmukh murder case, further said that he could attend the rally only because he was no longer a minister in the state government.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad had said that the Banjara community in Maharashtra should be given reservation and Scheduled Tribe (ST) status as per the Hyderabad Gazette, if it is being implemented in the state, PTI reported.
The legislator from the Opposition party claimed the Banjara community comes under the ST category in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
On September 2, the Maharashtra government issued a resolution on the Hyderabad Gazette and announced the formation of a committee to facilitate the issuance of Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas who are able to produce documentary evidence recognising them as Kunbis in the past.
Talking to reporters, Awhad said the Banjara community should be given the ST status and reservation, as per the Hyderabad Gazette.
"I have been demanding this for long and all evidence has also been shown. Give Banjara community reservation as the Scheduled Tribe, if the Hyderabad Gazette is being implemented in Maharashtra," he added, reported PTI.
Last week, Maharashtra NCP minister and OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal claimed the state government has opened a Pandora's box by accepting Manoj Jarange's demand.
(with PTI inputs)
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