Former MLAs lead protest march against fake caste certificates misuse in elections

Kolhapur:Former MLAs Sujit Minchekar and Rajiv Awale led a massive protest march, organised by the Scheduled Caste Reservation Protection Jan Andolan Samiti, to the district collectorate on Monday. The protestors demanded a crackdown on individuals who allegedly used fraudulent caste certificates to contest local body elections in seats reserved for the scheduled caste (SC) category.The protestors alleged that during recent zilla parishad and municipal elections, several individuals from other castes obtained fake SC certificates to bypass reservation laws. A formal memorandum of demands was submitted to district collector Amol Yedge during the rally.Former MLA Sujit Minchekar specifically targeted three local leaders in his address. "We demand immediate disqualification of Pattankodoli Zilla Parishad member Dargonda Basgonda Patil (Mahesh Patil), Ichalkaranji Municipal Corporation corporator Alka Swami, and Gadhinglaj Municipality Mayor Mahesh Mahadev Turbatmath. Their certificates are fake, and their election should be nullified," Minchekar said.He further demanded that criminal cases for cheating be registered against the accused. "The officials who issued these certificates without verifying the legal requirements must be suspended and investigated. Furthermore, the assets of these individuals should be scrutinised," he added.The march commenced at Bindu Chowk, with participants carrying blue flags and wearing blue caps and scarves. The procession moved through Dasara Chowk and Venus Corner before culminating in a public rally outside the Collector's Office.Addressing the gathering, KMC corporator Durvas Kadam said, "The Constitution guarantees our participation in the political process through reservation. By obtaining fake certificates, these individuals are committing an injustice against genuine scheduled caste candidates. Stringent action is the only way to protect the integrity of the system."Former Congress MLA Rajiv Awale gave an emotional address, highlighting the historical struggle of the community. "We have endured decades of caste-based violence; our caste is our identity, not a tool for others to exploit. Those who produce fake certificates have never faced the struggles we have. They must not be allowed to steal our opportunities," he said.The rally saw a large turnout of activists and community leaders. RPI (A) district pPresident Uttam Kamble alleged administrative complicity in the fraud. "How can people with no connection to our community suddenly become scheduled caste? This happened with the connivance of administrative officers. We will not tolerate this theft of our constitutional rights," Kamble said.