CM Fadnavis Slams Opposition Calling for Reservation for Muslims

Fadnavis accused the Congress and the NCP of “misleading” the Muslim community in the state to secure a vote-bank.

Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly passing a bill proposing 16 percent reservation for Marathas under socially and educationally backward categories, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis slammed the Opposition’s challenging questions about reservation for the Muslim community in the state.

The opposition parties, primarily the Congress and the NCP, had also brought up the question of reservation for the Dhangra (shepherd) community in Maharashtra at the state Assembly meeting on Monday, 26 November. The leader of the Opposition, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, had said, “We want the government to announce its stand on reservation for Muslims and table the reports on quota for Marathas and Dhangars in the House for discussion,” PTI reported.

Responding to the challenge put forth by the Opposition, Fadnavis had accused them of attempting to “mislead the minority community”.

He also said that for the Muslim or any other minority community to be given reservation, they would need to be declared as ‘backward’ first, for which they would first have to approach the State Backward Class Commission.

“52 backward castes among Muslims were given reservation by the previous Shiv Sena-BJP state government (in 90s). To give reservation, the castes need to be declared as ‘backward’ first. Those demanding quota should first approach the State Backward Class Commission, and the commission’s report will be binding on the government.”

CM Devendra Fadnavis, as reported by PTI

Charging the opposition parties, Fadnavis also said: "Our government is providing educational benefits to the backward communities among Muslims. For the Congress and the NCP, Muslims are just a vote bank and they never cared for their well-being”, PTI reported.

Earlier, Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil had also countered Vikhe’s statement and defended the government’s stance to not provide for reservations for Muslims in the state by saying that reservation on the basis of religion given in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala did not stand in court, PTI reported.