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Maha’s quota ‘war’: Bhujbal threatens street protests over OBC dilution, Jarange Patil hits back

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Mumbai/Jalna, Sep 4: The ongoing political tussle over reservations in Maharashtra escalated sharply on Friday as senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal issued a fierce warning to his own MahaYuti government against encroaching upon Other Backward Classes (OBC) quotas.

His fiery outburst drew an immediate, sharp retaliation from Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil, further deepening the rift within the ruling MahaYuti coalition government.

Addressing a press conference, Minister Bhujbal fired a direct broadside at state Ministers and legislators visiting Jarange Patil’s hunger strike site in Antarwali Sarati, accusing the state government of demonstrating excessive eagerness to appease the activist’s demands.

Minister Bhujbal raised serious concerns over alleged document tampering to claim Kunbi-Maratha status and cautioned against overriding statutory procedures.

“The Caste Scrutiny Committee is a vital body, and no one should exert pressure on it,” he asserted, questioning lawmakers who promised to “correct” rejected caste certificates.

“Four Corporators in Mumbai lost their seats because their caste validity certificates were cancelled. Are you going to ‘correct’ those as well?”

Highlighting economic imbalances, Minister Bhujbal revealed he walked out of a Cabinet sub-committee meeting in protest after Rs 750 crore was allocated to the Maratha-focused Annasaheb Patil Economic Development Corporation, compared to a mere Rs 5 crore granted to OBC welfare committees.

He demanded that if a dedicated Maratha-Kunbi Ministry is created, separate Ministries must be established for every community in the state.

Minister Bhujbal urged the state government to immediately clarify how a single candidate could simultaneously seek benefits under three distinct categories — OBC, Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC), and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).

Taking aim at the Maratha Reservation Cabinet Sub-Committee led by Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, the Minister questioned its authority to unilaterally issue local directives and Government Resolutions (GRs), warning that he will take to the streets if OBC interests continue to be sidelined.

Responding swiftly from his protest site in Antarwali Sarati, Manoj Jarange Patil launched a scathing personal attack on the veteran NCP leader Bhujbal, accusing him of exploiting the OBC community for political leverage.

“At this age, he (Chhagan Bhujbal) should look after his own politics and figure out how to make his nephew an MP,” Jarange Patil charged.

“He (Chhagan Bhujbal) consumed everything in the name of OBCs—the OBC Development Corporation was cleared out, and even Maharashtra Sadan wasn’t spared. The OBC community has now recognised his true nature as his decline has begun.”

Dismissing Minister Bhujbal’s demographic claims, Jarange Patil said, “Who told Bhujbal that the OBC population is 60 per cent? The massive Maratha community has only been granted a 10 per cent quota.”

The Maratha activist added, “People are watching how he (Chhagan Bhujbal) opportunistically switches sides—sometimes joining the Maha Vikas Aghadi, sometimes the MahaYuti, and sometimes aligning with Ajit Pawar.”

Jarange Patil reaffirmed that while the state government delegates have accepted key demands—including issuing Kunbi caste certificates to those with historical records—he will not end his fast until official implementation takes effect on the ground.

International News

EAM Jaishankar and US counterpart Rubio discuss advancing ties, regional developments

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External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar held a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Mumbai on Tuesday, with discussions focusing on further advancing bilateral ties.

During the meeting, the two ministers exchanged views on regional developments. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor and other officials were also present at the meeting.

“Pleased to meet US Marco Rubio in Mumbai today. We shared views on further advancement of our ties, focusing on trade, energy, technology, defence and people-to-people ties. Also exchanged views on regional developments,” EAM Jaishankar stated on X after the meting.

Rubio said that he and EAM Jaishankar discussed energy security and defence cooperation.

“In Mumbai, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and I discussed energy security and defense cooperation while reaffirming the importance of advancing the U.S.-India strategic partnership,” the US Secretary of State posted on X.

Earlier, EAM Jaishankar, Marco Rubio and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a meeting in Mumbai, with discussions held on regional energy security and advancing shared economic priorities.

“It was great to meet with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss regional energy security and advance our shared economic priorities,” Rubio stated on X after the meeting.

Following the meeting, Ambassador Gor also took to X and wrote: “The US, India, and UAE have real opportunities to advance cooperation on energy, trade, technology, and regional connectivity. Marco Rubio, S Jaishankar, and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Mumbai for a discussion on turning our close ties into concrete results!”

Earlier in the day, Marco Rubio arrived in Mumbai for an official visit to India. For his visit to Mumbai, Rubio is accompanied by his wife, Jeanette Rubio and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) extended a warm welcome to Rubio as he arrived in Mumbai for his second visit to India, noting that it provides an opportunity to further advance cooperation across various pillars of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.

“Welcome to Mumbai, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on your second visit to India! He was received by Shri Ashish Shelar, Minister of Culture, Electronics, IT and AI, Government of Maharashtra at the airport. The visit provides an opportunity to further advance cooperation across the various pillars of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership,” the MEA posted on X.

After concluding his engagements in Mumbai, Rubio will travel to Gujarat’s Jamnagar for talks that will include “enhanced energy cooperation”, the US State Department said.

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Crime

Model Shraddha Dubey, wanted in businessman Shiva Sharma death case, arrested in Nagpur

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Model Shraddha Dubey, a key accused in the death of Lucknow-based businessman Shiva Sharma, has been arrested in Nagpur along with her sister Rashmi Dubey and driver Danish, Uttar Pradesh Police said on Tuesday.

The three accused, who had been absconding since the registration of the case, were apprehended by the Lucknow Police and the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) with the assistance of Nagpur Police on Tuesday.

A reward of Rs 50,000 each had been announced for information leading to their arrest.

Following her arrest, Shraddha Dubey has been brought to Bell Road Police Station on Wardha Road in Nagpur, where she is currently being questioned.

Officials of the Uttar Pradesh STF and Nagpur Police are present at the police station and are jointly questioning her.

According to the police, a case under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered at the Hazratganj Police Station on October 9 on the basis of a written complaint filed by Ranjana Sharma.

The accused are being taken through the necessary legal formalities before being brought to Lucknow for further investigation into Sharma’s death.

Meanwhile, fresh details have emerged about Dubey’s movements during her absconding period.

According to media reports, she stayed for nearly 24 hours at a hotel in Taj Nagari Phase-I in Agra.

The reports claimed that CCTV footage showed a vehicle allegedly linked to Dubey arriving at the hotel at 6:33 a.m. on October 17. Around 20 minutes later, at 6.53 a.m., a woman identified as Dubey reportedly entered the premises. The vehicle’s registration number was reported to be UP32RT8043.

During her absconding period, Dubey had released a video appealing against linking her name with influential individuals.

An earlier viral audio recording, purportedly featuring her threatening Sharma, had also surfaced, in which she was allegedly heard referring to complaining about him to a ‘sir’.

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National News

CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka to approach Delhi HC seeking release

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Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka are set to move the Delhi High Court seeking their release, challenging the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court’s order extending their judicial custody in connection with the Jantar Mantar trespassing case.

The move comes a day after the SEM court extended the judicial custody of the two till October 21, observing that their conduct “shows no respect for law” and reflects their “habitualness in calling protest at de-notified areas”.

The two CJP leaders were sent to judicial custody till October 21 by SEM Ritu Raj at Mandir Marg police station after their earlier five-day judicial custody ended on Monday.

In its order, the SEM court said the investigating officer had placed substantial material on record, raising concerns over the likelihood of a breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity.

It also recorded that the two leaders had allegedly breached the bonds furnished by them before the SEM, South-West District, on October 11 and subsequently committed a breach of peace in the present case.

The court further observed that their assurance that they would not repeat the alleged offence did not inspire confidence in view of their past conduct and the material placed on record by the investigating officer.

Das and Ranka, along with party member Ajinkya Shinde, were among 14 people detained on October 13 after they entered Jantar Mantar through private premises and obstructed police personnel from discharging their official duties.

The CJP members were protesting against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and had raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

Delhi Police had justified their continued custody, citing repeated violations of law and apprehensions that their release could lead to further violations and instigation of others.

The SEM court had also found the sureties furnished on behalf of the two leaders unfit following an inquiry, citing discrepancies in identity documents and their inability to provide basic details about the persons for whom they stood surety. It directed them to furnish fresh sureties.

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