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In a significant development, the Maharashtra Assembly passed a bill on Tuesday guaranteeing 10 percent reservation in jobs and educational institutions to the Maratha community. The bill, tabled by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, aims to provide reservation to Marathas without disturbing the existing quota system.
Chief Minister Shinde, while presenting the bill in the assembly, emphasized the importance of ensuring justice for the Maratha community through this legislation.
However, amid the discussions surrounding Maratha reservation, the Samajwadi Party (SP) raised concerns about the reservation for the Muslim community in the state. SP MLA Abu Azmi led a protest outside the assembly, demanding a 5 percent reservation for Muslims in government jobs and educational institutions.
Rais Shaikh, another SP MLA, highlighted the importance of extending quota benefits to the Muslim community, citing the historical context of previous reservation policies. He urged Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to fulfill his promise of ensuring justice for minorities in the state.
It’s worth noting that the Congress-NCP government had previously granted reservation to Muslims through an ordinance. Despite the Muslim community constituting more than 10 percent of the state’s population, concerns over their economic and educational backwardness have been underscored by various commissions and committees, including the Justice Rajinder Sachar Commission and the Justice Ranganath Mishra Committee.
In 2009, the Dr. Mehmoodur Rehman Committee recommended 8 percent reservation for the Muslim community in education and jobs, further highlighting the need for comprehensive measures to address their socio-economic challenges.
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