MUSLIM QUOTA: Govt braces for MAHA opposition
Says the Saffron alliance wants to destroy the base of social justice
The opposition parties are gearing up to corner the government on the contentious issue of reservation for Muslims during the upcoming Budget session. Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil and Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde, both have criticised the government over its decision to scrap the 5% quota for Muslims provided by the previous UPA government in the state.
Vikhe-Patil has criticised the government for not keeping their word on the issue. “The Chief Minister has not kept his word. The ruling combine wants to destroy the base of social justice that the Congress has been developing for years,” he said.
“The government is doing injustice to Muslims after the decision over reservation for Maratha community got into legal trouble,” Vikhe-Patil said adding that, CM had assured Congress MLAs of doing justice to the community during a meeting, but is not keeping his word now.
“By doing away with the reservation, the government has shown its hidden agenda. The Congress has been consistently demanding reservations be implemented for Muslim community which has been agreed upon by the court and we will definitely take this issue up in the Assembly session,” he said.
The government’s stand would deprive the community of opportunities at Government, semi government offices, local self bodies, universities and educational institutes, he said.
Newly appointed MPCC chief Ashok Chavan too has challenged the government over the indecision. “BJP’s slogan of development for all is hollow,” he said adding that the Congress would go to people with the government’s failure on this issue. The MRCC chief Sanjay Nirupam said, “We shall not let the assembly function if the government does not go back to the previous decision.”
The NCP too has condemned the government. “They have shown that they are against the Muslims by not taking any decision on the issue,” leader of opposition in the legislative council and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde has said.