Din in Maha Assembly over quota for Muslims in education

Maharashtra Assembly today witnessed uproarious scenes over Opposition's demand for 5 per cent reservation for Backward Class Muslims in education sector, leading to adjournment of the House twice. Later, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified that when the Assembly Session was in progress, no ordinance can be promulgated for making reservation for backward Muslims in education sector. Raising the issue, Congress legislator Abdul Sattar said Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse has made a negative statement in the Legislative Council about the reservation to the Muslims and sought a clarification from the BJP-led Government on the matter in the Lower House. He was soon joined by opposition members Naseem Khan, Amin Patel and others along with Leader of Opposition Radha Krishna Vikhe Patil (Congress) and Ajit Pawar (NCP), Syed Imtiyaz Jalil and Waris Pathan (AIMIM) who were on their feet. They raised slogans for reservations for backward class sections of the Muslim community and moved to the Well of the House, throwing papers in the air. Khadse put up a strong defence saying the previous Congress-NCP government (in the state) had done nothing for the backward community members with regards to education. He said the Congress, even after 60 years in power, did not make provision for them during all these years. This triggered a verbal dual between treasury and opposition benches and as the din continued for a while Speaker Haribhau Bagde adjourned the House for 10 minutes. After resumption, the Opposition continued the protest and the House was adjourned for another 15 minutes. The Opposition accused the Devendra Fadnavis Government of not "strongly" defending the reservation for Muslims in the Bombay High Court, which scrapped it. Khadse, however, assured the House that those who are pursuing higher education will not be deprived of it and those who secured employment under the reservation system will not be removed. He said there was no provision for reservation for members of a particular community like Muslims or others. Khadse said certain sections of the community belonging to backward class are entitled for the benefit.