Prakash Ambedkar to launch yatra over reservation issue from July 25

The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi VBA will hold the Aarakshan Bachao Janyatra on the reservation issue in parts of Maharashtra from July 25 party chief Prakash Ambedkar said reported news agency PTITalking to reporters on Tuesday Ambedkar demanded that the Kunbi caste certificates issued without the people applying for it be cancelled and political parties clear their stand on the reservation issue reported PTIHe also claimed the demand for the implementation of the sage soyare blood relatives notification amounted to adulteration of the quota and courts have given decisions against it earlierActivist Manoj Jarange has been demanding implementation of the governments draft notification that recognises Kunbis as sage soyare of Maratha community members He has been demanding that Kunbi certificates be issued to all Marathas thus making them eligible for quota benefitsKunbi an agrarian group is part of the Other Backward Classes OBC categoryHowever some OBC activists recently launched an agitation demanding scrapping of the draft notification and an assurance that their quota would not be dilutedThere are two groups in the state in the form of OBCs versus Marathas The OBC leaders have a fear over the outcome of this issue A way out is not possible till parties of the rich Maratha community like the Shiv Sena UBT Congress NCP Sharad Pawar and also BJP do not clear their stand Ambedkar said reported PTIHe said the OBC leaders have endorsed the VBAs stand on the quota matter and stressed the need to create awareness about the issue among people in villagesThe VBA chief said the Aarakshan Bachao Janyatra which will traverse through different villages will begin on July 25 after his visit to his grandfather Dr B R Ambedkars memorial Chaityabhoomi in Mumbai and social reformer Jyotiba Phules residence in Pune reported PTIThis yatra will head to Kolhapur on July 26 Sangli Solapur Dharashiv Beed Latur Nanded Yavatmal Amravati Akola Buldhana Washim Jalna district It will culminate in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on August 7 or 8 he said reported PTIWe will create awareness about the demand for doubling the SCST students scholarship giving the same scholarship to OBC students promotion in jobs for SCST and OBCs We will also put pressure on the parties which have not taken any stand on the reservation issue through the janyatra Prakash Ambedkar said reported PTIOn the protest by activist Jarange he said though people had been attending his rallies it was not clear in which direction the agitation would be headedJarange has to take a stand on whether he is with the rich Maratha community or the poor Marathas he said reported PTIPrakash Ambedkar claimed the demand for the implementation of the sage soyare notification amounted to adulteration of the quota and courts have given decisions against it earlierThe reservation of Kunbis is intact The demand of reservation to others through a different way is the disputed issue now The Kunbi certificates are now given without applications and should be cancelled he said adding those who need them should apply for it and obtain it reported PTIWith inputs from PTI