Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis may repeal quota for Muslims
The DF govt led by Chavan, on June 16, 2014, had announced 16% reservation for Marathas and 5% for Muslims in government jobs and educational institutions.
By Prafulla Marapakwar, TNN |
MUMBAI: Is the Fadnavis government determined to give Muslims in Maharashtra short shrift? It would appear so because it has not only not re-promulgated the lapsed ordinance providing for reservation for Muslims in government and aided educational institutions in the state, but also cancelled all government resolutions providing for such a quota.
The DF government led by Prithviraj Chavan, on June 16, 2014, had announced 16% reservation for Marathas and 5% for Muslims in government jobs and educational institutions.
Senior Congress leader and former minority affairs minister Nashim Khan told that the general administration department led by Fadnavis issued an official order on March 2 cancelling all government resolutions that provided for reservation to Muslims in educational institutions. "The BJP government is anti-Muslim," he said.
The move has elicited strong criticism from the Congress, whose coalition government had decided to give Marathas and Muslims a separate quota in government jobs and education.
We condemn the failure of the BJP-led government to issue a fresh ordinance (after it lapsed on December 23, 2014); as a result, there will be no reservation for Muslims in the state's schools and colleges.
The decision followed a decade-long survey. Subsequently, it promulgated two independent ordinances on July 24.
Following a legal challenge, the Bombay high court set aside the reservation for Marathas, but only stayed the concession for Muslims in government jobs, leaving the special quota for Muslims in educational institutions untouched. The Maratha Reservation Bill was subsequently passed by both Houses of the state legislature in December.
"The CM should have taken steps for conversion of the ordinance into a bill or issue a fresh ordinance. Since, no steps were taken, the ordinance lapsed. As a result, now there will be no reservation for Muslims in educational institutions," he said.
However, state minority affairs and agriculture minister Eknath Khadse said his government will ensure that all Muslim students who have been admitted under the said quota will be protected.
The DF government led by Prithviraj Chavan, on June 16, 2014, had announced 16% reservation for Marathas and 5% for Muslims in government jobs and educational institutions.
Senior Congress leader and former minority affairs minister Nashim Khan told that the general administration department led by Fadnavis issued an official order on March 2 cancelling all government resolutions that provided for reservation to Muslims in educational institutions. "The BJP government is anti-Muslim," he said.
The move has elicited strong criticism from the Congress, whose coalition government had decided to give Marathas and Muslims a separate quota in government jobs and education.
We condemn the failure of the BJP-led government to issue a fresh ordinance (after it lapsed on December 23, 2014); as a result, there will be no reservation for Muslims in the state's schools and colleges.
The decision followed a decade-long survey. Subsequently, it promulgated two independent ordinances on July 24.
ADVERTISEMENT
Following a legal challenge, the Bombay high court set aside the reservation for Marathas, but only stayed the concession for Muslims in government jobs, leaving the special quota for Muslims in educational institutions untouched. The Maratha Reservation Bill was subsequently passed by both Houses of the state legislature in December.
"The CM should have taken steps for conversion of the ordinance into a bill or issue a fresh ordinance. Since, no steps were taken, the ordinance lapsed. As a result, now there will be no reservation for Muslims in educational institutions," he said.
However, state minority affairs and agriculture minister Eknath Khadse said his government will ensure that all Muslim students who have been admitted under the said quota will be protected.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
