Muslim Reservation Front to continue struggle till it is increased to 15%.
By A. Mirsab, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: 30 years after the demand for reservation was raised by Muslims in Maharashtra, the fourth term seeking INC-NCP government led by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday approved 5% reservation to Muslim community and 16 % to Maratha community. Muslim political and religious leaders in the state have hailed the decision of the state government and have praised Muslim ministers in state who have continued to raise the reservation issue in the assembly till it became a reality on Wednesday.
With the reservation announcement, Maharashtra became the fifth state of the country after Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka to allow reservation in education and jobs to Muslims.
Analysts have mixed opinion on the government’s reservation move. When some believes that it was the need to uplift economical and social status of backward people belonging to Maratha and Muslim community others believe it to be a purely political game played by INC-NCP to attract voters before the assembly polls due in November this year.
Minority Minister Arif Naseem Khan felicitated by people after reservation announcement by CM.
While briefing media after the cabinet meeting Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said, “The state cabinet today has approved a proposal to give 16 percent reservation for Maratha community and 5 percent for Muslim community in jobs and education. The reservation for Maratha and Muslim community is over and above of the existing 52 percent reservation quota for various communities in the state and without touching the OBC reservation quota. This reservation will come into effect immediately.”
“Maratha community is being treated as educationally and socially backward and 16 per cent quota has been fixed for them. The quota for Muslims is not religion-based but on the criterion of social and economic backwardness,” he added.
When he was questioned on the political motive behind the announcement of reservation to Muslims by its government, he said,” The process for this started in 2004. There have been recommendations of Sachar Committee and Rangnath Mishra Commission on social, educational and economic backwardness of Muslims.”
He also said that the reservation quota for Maratha and Muslim community is as per the Rule 16 (4) and 15 (4) of the Constitution of India.
The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance popularly known as ‘Mahayuti’ in the state have objected to the reservation given to Muslims while it has supported government’s move of granting reservation to Maratha community.
“The decision (of granting 5 % reservation) is politically motivated and unconstitutional as there is no provision in the Constitution for religion-based reservation,” Eknath Khadse and Vinod Tawde, leaders of opposition in legislative assembly and legislative council respectively, told reporters.
“We are in support of the reservation to Maratha community, but we have doubts whether government’s decision will stand legal scrutiny. We had suggested various ways to government which would have allowed the government to overcome the legal hurdles, but they have neglected our suggestions”, Vinod Tawde further said while supporting reservation to Maratha community.
Mixed Reactions
Reservation announcement by the outgoing Maharashtra government couple of months before the assembly elections is being viewed differently by Muslim religious leaders, scholars and organizations.
Muslim Cleric Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali said that it was a welcome move, which will help the Muslim community to move forward.
“The reservation that Maharashtra govt has announced we welcome that. This would benefit in development of the Muslim community in Maharashtra,” said Mahali.
Muslim scholar Abdulkadir Mukadam said, “The announcement is done with intention of getting Muslim votes in forthcoming assembly elections. And I have my doubts about it standing the legal scrutiny.”
“But this decision will give opportunity to communal forces like Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena to vitiate the atmosphere against the minority community.If the government wants to improve condition of Muslims, it can take up several measures, but all of them are long-term measures and won’t give votes in the short term; so, no government is interested in implementing them”, Mukadam said.
Muslim Reservation Front (MRF) Maharashtra has vowed to continue its struggle till the state raises quota for the community to 15 %. Many members, workers of MRF and supporters from NGOs and educational institutes are already sitting on 6 days hunger strike in Aurangabad city of Maharashtra before the office of divisional commissioner since Tuesday i.e. one day before the formal announcement of 5 % reservation to the Muslims.
Muslim Reservation Front Maharashtra on hunger strike in Aurangabad seeking 15% reservation.
MRF president Ajmal Khan said after the announcement by CM Prithviraj Chavan, “We are not happy with 5% reservation as state appointed Mamoodur Raheman committee has suggested 8 % quota to Muslims and 10 % quota to women whereas Sachar Committee and Rangnath Mishra commission have suggested more quota than allocated by state “.
He informed that they would continue hunger strike on 26 June despite reservation declaration by state.
The MRF stand was supported by many Muslims and secular Hindu leaders including former MP Uttam Sing Pawar and OBC leader Adv. Mahadev Ingale by joining the hunger strike.