Maharashtra: "Give 5% reservation to Muslims to eradicate backwardness," demands SP MLA

Vidhan Bhavan. File Pic/Mid-day

After the Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday approved the bill to extend 10 per cent reservations to Maratha community in the state, Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Rais Shaikh said that Muslim community in the state also deserve reservation to eradicate backwardness.

Speaking to ANI, the SP MLA alleged that the Muslim community is being 'ignored' by the state government. A 5 per cent reservation must be given to Muslims at the earliest to eradicate the backwardness of the community and to do 'justice' with them. He also said that he welcomes the justice Maratha community is getting, but Muslims should not be ignored.

"When the Maratha community was given reservation by the previous government, on the same day a notification was brought out and a 5 per cent reservation was given to Muslims. We appeal to the government to go through the notification, when you are doing justice, do justice to everybody," he said, speaking with ANI.

Rais Shaikh also urged Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar to look into the matter. "I appeal to Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who had promised that no injustice will be done to the minorities in the state to look into this," he added.

The Congress-NCP government had previously given reservation to Muslims through an ordinance.

SP MLA from Mumbai and former corporator from Govandi, Rais Shaikh's demand for Muslim reservation comes after the Maharashtra Cabinet led by Eknath Shinde approved the bill, extending reservation to Marathas above the 50 per cent mark. A special session of the state legislature is convened for the same on Tuesday, February 20.

The bill for the Maratha quota approved by the cabinet on Tuesday is similar to the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Act, 2018, introduced by the then Devendra Fadnavis government.

The bill is based on the latest report submitted to the state government by the Maharashtra Backward Class Commission (MBCC) headed by chairman Justice (Retired) Sunil Shukre.

Notably, this is the third time in a decade that Maharashtra state government has introduced legislation for reservation for the Marathas. The bill comes after the long-standing protest from Maratha community, and their activist Manoj Jarange who has been on hunger strike demanding reservation for Marathas.

(With ANI inputs)