In a politically significant development, Prakash Ambedkar will undertake an 'aarakshan bachao yatra' (save reservation march) which could become a cause of concern for ruling Maha Yuti and opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi in the run up to the Vidhan Sabha polls in Maharashtra.
A lawyer-politician, the Mumbai-based Ambedkar (70), is the grandson of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, the chief architect of Constitution of India. Ambedkar also heads the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, a political outfit various groups including Dalits, Adivasis, Kolis, Agris, Banjaras, Malis, Kaikadis and other communities besides Muslims.
Ambedkar will launch the march from Chaityabhoomi in Dadar in Mumbai and head for Phule Wada in Pune.
The first destination would be Kolhapur. The places have their own significance. In Chaityabhoomi, the last rites of Dr Ambedkar were performed.
Phule Wada is closely associated with the social reform movement of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule.
Kolhapur has its own significance as is from here Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, a descendent of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, undertook social reform movement and one of the earliest concepts of reservation. Shahu Maharaj was closely associated with Dr Ambedkar.
The yatra - with a call of 'Jai Phule-Jai Shahu-Jai Bhim' aims to protect the reservation of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
The development comes at a time during the Maratha reservation agitation being undertaken by Manoj Jarange-Patil and the OBC resistance spearheaded by Prof Laxman Hake.
Ambedkar, a two-time Lok Sabha MP from Akola and one-term Rajya Sabha MP, would tour the entire state holding street-corner meetings.
"Till the major political parties clearly specify their position there is no solution in sight for the reservation issue," said Ambedkar even as he appealed to OBC leaders and workers to join the morcha.
NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who is the founder-President of All India Mahatma Phule Samata Parishad, had been protesting against what he described as "backdoor entry" of the Marathas in the OBCs.
We want reservation as OBCs: Jarange-Patil
Maratha reservation campaigner Manoj Jarange-Patil reiterated that the Maratha community should get reservation under OBC category. “We are firm on our demand. We want reservation as OBCs…The government must include Kunbis under OBC category across the state for giving reservation and the draft sage-soyare notification must be implemented at the earliest,” he said.