Maharashtra Muslim quota talks after new government forms: Revanth Reddy

Maharashtra Election: Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said it is Congress' 'responsibility to do justice to them (Muslims)', by providing reservations.  

In Short

• Muslim reservation becomes key campaign topic in Maharashtra
• BJP claims congress agreed for 10 per cent quota, state Congress denies
• Revant Reddy says matter will be discussed after government formation

Amid the political controversy between the BJP and Congress over Muslim reservation in Maharashtra, Congress leader and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said that the issue will be addressed after the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) forms the government post the November 20 elections.

Referring to Muslim reservations in Telangana as a precedent, Reddy added that it is the Congress party's "responsibility to ensure justice for the poor and needy".

His comment came amid the issue of reservation taking centre stage in the Maharashtra polls, where BJP leaders have taken a stand opposing calls for a Muslim reservation, which was scrapped in 2021.

"After forming the government in Maharashtra, we will discuss it (Muslim reservations). A 4 percent reservation has already been implemented in Telangana. We had 5 percent, but since it led to a breach of the 50 percent cap, the Supreme Court ordered it to be reduced," the Telangana Chief Minister said.

He added, "In Telangana, we had a teacher recruitment of 11,000 of which 720 Muslims were recruited under the reservation. Those who are poor and those who are in need, it's Congress' responsibility to do justice to them..."

At a recent election rally in Maharashtra, Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleged that a group of Muslim scholars met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and demanded 10 percent reservation for the community in the state. He claimed that Congress agreed to the demand.

“If reservation has to be given to Muslims, then reservation for SCs, STs, and OBCs will have to be cut. Rahul Baba, not only you, but even if your four generations were to come, they cannot cut the quota meant for SCs, STs, and OBCs and give it to Muslims,” Shah said.

However, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Sunday rejected Shah's assertion. He said, "We (MVA) are fighting the election on core issues and will not be drawn into the Hindu-Muslim fake narrative."

Maharashtra is set to vote to elect its members to the assembly on November 20. The counting will take place on November 23.