Demand for Muslim quota in Maharashtra grows - Congress seeks ordinance, AIMIM goes to court, Shiv Sena backs

Recently, both the house of Maharashtra assembly passed the Maratha reservation bill. All political parties have supported the Maratha bill. But after the passing of the Maratha reservation bill, the demand for Muslim reservation has grown. All the opposition parties have unanimously asked the government to give reservation to the Muslims. Opposition claims that Muslims are socially and educationally backward. Congress and AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) are more vocal about the reservation for Muslims. MIM has said that they will approach Mumbai High Court for Muslim reservation as they do not have any hopes from the present BJP government.

While speaking to Republic TV, AIMIM MLA Imtiyaz Jalil said, "this government is Anti-Muslim and they will never give reservation to the backward class of Muslims and that’s why the only legal option is left. Our legal team is working on the draft & very soon we will file the petition in Mumbai High Court."

Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra Prithviraj Chavan has told Republic TV that if the government is serious about Muslim reservation then they should bring an ordinance for Muslim reservation in education.

"We had done in this in the past. The high court has also not stayed our previous ordinance in which we had given 5 percentage reservation in education to the Muslim students."

READ | LISTEN: Phone Recording Of AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi's Claim About Congress Offering Rs 25 Lakhs To Cancel Telangana Rally

In an exclusive interview with Republic TV, former minority minister and Congress MLA Nasim Khan has said, "we will give reservations to the Muslims after coming to power in 2019. We are demanding reservation for those communities of Muslim who are educationally and socially backward. Reservation can uplift the life of poor Muslim families. We had given reservation to the Muslim in 2014 and will give them again when we come back in power. On the allegations of Muslim appeasement, Congress MLA Ameen Patel said "our demand for reservation is not on the basis of the religion but on the backward class of Muslim. If required we will approach the High Court.

Over the allegations of bias towards Muslim community, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis has said, 'we know that there are certain section in Muslim community are economically backward but there is no such provision to give reservation on the basis of the religion. Fadnavis also emphasized that there are already so many welfare schemes for Muslims. Over the demands of Congress, CM Fadnavis has assured the house that very soon the government will call all party meeting to discuss the Muslim reservation issue.'

Surprisingly, Shiv Sena extended their support for Muslims reservation. Sena said that a large section of Muslims in Maharashtra are economically backward and the government should give them the reservation.

READ | AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi Slams Government Over CBI Row, Says 'This Action Taken By The Government Is Illegal And Wrong'