Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) today demanded that the BJP-led state government implements the five per cent quota for backward classes from Muslim community in education and government jobs.
Former Minister and senior Congress leader Mohammed Arif Naseem Khan told reporters that the Bombay High Court has upheld the Muslim quota in education.
“But the government allowed the ordinance, promulgated by the previous government, to lapse. This is nothing but disrespecting the court order,” he said.
Since the last two days, the minority cell of MPCC has been holding protests and submitting memorandum to collectors in all the 36 districts of the state demanding that the government promulgates fresh ordinance to provide five per cent reservation for Muslims in education and jobs.
“The quota was not given on religious grounds, but on backwardness in the community. The government apathy towards minorities is seen from the fact that it deliberately allowed the ordinance to lapse,” he said.
“We will give some time to the government to take the necessary steps to allow Muslims to get the benefit of reservations in education and jobs. If the government does not take any decision, we will announce our next step of agitation,” he said.