Nagpur: The OBC Sakal Mahamorcha on Sunday in Nagpur called for a Bharat bandh agitation on Nov 2 to press for an independent OBC column in the caste-based census. Senior politician Vijay Wadettiwar, who headed the meeting, said a “Chalo Delhi” march will follow on Nov 15.The decisions were taken at a meeting in Nagpur attended by representatives from 18 states, including people working in various OBC organisations. A national coordination committee with members from every state will be formed, and its first meeting will be held in Hyderabad, though no date for the same was announced.Wadettiwar said, “Our demand is that OBCs must have an independent column in the caste-based census, only then will our population be understood. We also demand a share in proportion to our numbers, according to our population.”The Mahamorcha will first submit memoranda and pamphlets to MLAs and MPs from Oct 12-18 seeking support for the demand. Memoranda will be submitted to all collectors on Oct 15, and district-level morchas will be taken out on Oct 25.Wadettiwar said, “We all took this decision together, and on Nov 15 we will move ahead with the Chalo Delhi slogan, with the entire morcha in Delhi. The fight will continue until OBCs get an independent column in the census.”He added that the OBC community was not against any group, but only wanted to ensure that its members get a fair share of what the Constitution has promised them. “But to understand what exactly is a fair share, we must quantify the numbers and this can only be done by the central govt. The govt had promised us caste-based census, so our demand is that they fulfil it,” said Wadettiwar.
