6 July 2024: The Muslim Welfare Association in Maharashtra has renewed its call for a 5% reservation in government jobs and educational institutions for the Muslim community following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The demand also includes political reservations, citing a decrease in Muslim legislators in both State Assemblies and Parliament. The Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), part of the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition in Maharashtra, have voiced their support.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his election campaign, claimed that reservations meant for SC, ST, and OBC communities were diverted to Muslims under Congress rule. The Muslim Welfare Association, however, argues that if the matter is not addressed in the current State Assembly session, they will adopt a more assertive stance to secure their rights.
At a press conference in Mumbai on June 28, the Association referenced past judgments from the Bombay High Court and reports from various commissions that support their demand. The group expressed frustration with previous governments’ failures to implement the approved 5% quota and indicated plans to launch a movement focused on this issue, emphasizing its importance for economically disadvantaged Muslims.
The Association highlighted the success of similar reservations in Andhra Pradesh under the Telugu Desam Party and underscored the need for such policies to integrate Muslims into the mainstream educational system. They noted that poverty within the community is largely due to educational barriers, with a high dropout rate among children aged 6 to 14.
Saleem Sarang, a founding member of the Muslim Welfare Association and vice-president of Ajit Pawar’s NCP, criticized political parties for neglecting Muslim rights and under-representing them in elections. He called for both educational and political reservations, urging political parties to include these demands in their manifestos to gain Muslim support.
The Association plans to push for discussions in the State Assembly’s monsoon session and is prepared to organize statewide protests if their demands are not met. They intend to submit a statement to district collectors and meet with the Governor to advocate for their cause.
Iqbal Memon, president of the All India Memon Jamaat Federation, expressed support for the movement despite the economic stability of the Memon community, emphasizing the need for unity in the fight for reservation.
Sarang also pointed out the lack of Muslim representation in the current government and criticized the delay in implementing the Bombay High Court-approved 5% educational reservation. He cited similar measures in other states and questioned why Maharashtra lags behind.
SP MLA Rais Shaikh also urged the Mahayuti government to act swiftly, referencing a commitment from the TDP to Muslim reservations in Andhra Pradesh. Shaikh accused the government of delaying a socio-economic survey of the Muslim community, which was recommended by the Dr. Mehmoodur Rehman Committee and sanctioned by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS).
The Association aims to maintain pressure on the government to address their demands and ensure the implementation of the 5% quota for Muslims in education and employment sectors.
