OBC body asks Fadnavis to rename Pune as 'Phule Nagar', lists nine demands

The Rashtriya OBC Mukti Morcha has demanded that Pune be renamed 'Phule Nagar'. On the occasion of the bicentenary of Mahatma Jotiba Phule, office-bearers of the Morcha met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Nagpur and submitted a memorandum to him.

The memorandum says Mahatma Phule's work in education and social reform is invaluable. Pune was the field of his work, and the state government has therefore been asked to pass, at the earliest, the resolution needed to rename the city 'Phule Nagar'. It also demands that Mahatma Phule be conferred the Bharat Ratna.

The Morcha has listed its demands one by one. The first is that the state government pass a resolution to rename Pune as Phule Nagar. The second is that the state government consistently pursue the proposal to confer the Bharat Ratna on Mahatma Phule.

The third demand asks for a one-day special session of the legislature to discuss Mahatma Phule's work. The fourth is that a special general body meeting be held on his birth anniversary in all local self-government bodies in the state, at which his work would be honoured.

The fifth demand is to begin a 'Satyashodhak Bhushan Puraskar' for organisations and individuals doing progressive work and public awareness work. The sixth is that Mahatma Phule chairs be started in all universities.

The seventh demand says the state government's Bahujan Welfare Department should support various organisations in holding 'Satyashodhak Vivah Upakram' events. The eighth is that the complete literature of Mahatma Jotiba Phule be made available in the libraries of all gram panchayats and municipal councils in the state.

The last demand concerns schools. The Morcha wants schools with 100 per cent student attendance to be given the 'Mahatma Phule Guruvar Puraskar'.

In all, the Morcha has placed nine demands before the Chief Minister, relating to renaming Pune, the Bharat Ratna, a special session, awards, universities, libraries and schools.