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Congress, NCP to take up Muslim reservation roll back issue in Maharashtra

By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,

Mumbai: Days after the BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra decided to do away with 5 % reservation for Muslims in educational institutions, state Congress decided to fight back the decision, which was originally taken by the Congress-NCP government.

Condemning the government decision, Ashok Chavan, recently appointed as the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, held a meeting with party leaders on Thursday morning here to decide about the future path of action. The Congress has decided to hold demonstrations across the state and aggressively take up the issue in the state legislature in the forthcoming session.



For representation purpose (TCN file photo)

The budget session of the Maharashtra legislature will start from Monday, March 9.

The BJP-Shiv Sena government cancelled the earlier July 2014 ordinance about Muslim reservation, which had lapsed in December 2014, by issuing a government resolution to that effect on March 2. It could have, but it did not bring in any new ordinance.

The Maharashtra government decision days ahead of the budget session has given an easy weapon in the hands of the opposition Congress-NCP parties. It was during the Congress-NCP regime that the ordinances to give 16 % reservation to Marathas and 5 % to Muslims were promulgated.

Not just Congress, even the NCP has announced to launch state wide agitation on the issue.

Business Standard reported that Congress MP and Maulana Azad Vichar Manch president Hussain Dalwai has said that the quota was quite essential for the upliftment of the community.

“Muslims constitute 11.8% of the state population and the condition of those living below poverty line in particular is very bad. The community members need to be brought into the mainstream.”

Business Standard also quoted Maulana Mustakim Azmi, Jamiat Ulama-e-Maharashtra president, who said the government’s decision will again push the Muslim community backward considering there are hardly any opportunities in jobs.
ENDS

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