Pune: State revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Thursday said he was hurt after Maratha activist Manoj Jarange mocked him and commented on his physical appearance, but would not object if these help the Maratha community.Jarange made personal remarks against Bawankule and mocked him while addressing his supporters in Solapur earlier in the day. Mahayuti members and some OBC organisations took objections to Jarange’s comment. Bawankule appealed to the OBC community not to react to the comments.“Reaction from the OBC community will unnecessarily create social disturbance in the state, which is not good. Law and order should be maintained and I appeal to the OBC community not to stage any agitation,” Bawankule told reporters in Pune.Reacting to Jarange’s mocking, Bawankule said, “I was hurt due to the personal comments. I have a family and they also feel bad. But I am a part of the govt. Therefore, I have to show patience without reacting to any comments.”He said, “I have not indulged in Maratha-OBC conflict and I have not made any comments against anyone. If the Maratha community benefits by mocking me, I would not object to it.”Jarange, on western Maharashtra tour, has been criticising Bawankule in almost every rally. The Maratha activist accused the minister of using his influence to invalidate some Kunbi certificates issued to Maratha community members.Bawankule refuted Jarange’s allegations. He said, “The revenue department issues caste certificates but does not validate them.”
