Seeking opinion of experts on Muslim quota issue: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said he was in the process of seeking opinion of constitutional experts on the issue of reservation for Muslims.
Maintaining that his Government was committed to the welfare of Muslims, Fadnavis, who will complete 100 days in office tomorrow, said the erstwhile Congress-NCP administration's stand on quota for the community was flawed.
"My Government is for all-round development of the Muslim community. The quota proposed by the previous Government would have benefited only a minuscule section of the Muslim population," the BJP leader said.
"The Congress-NCP used Muslims as a vote bank and ahead of the Assembly election last year, hurriedly announced reservation for Muslims in educational institutes and Government jobs. However, only education quota for the community was upheld by the Bombay High Court.

"Since there was confusion on the issue and whether reservations can be granted on religion grounds, we are in the process of consulting constitutional experts," he said.
Fadnavis (44), said the BJP-Shiv Sena Government would chalk out a holistic policy for the welfare of Muslims which would include "outcome- specific expenditure".
In June last year, then ruling Congress-NCP had announced 5 per cent reservation for Muslims in Government jobs and educational institutions, a decision which was challenged in the High Court.
In November last, the HC stayed the decision to provide reservation to Muslims in jobs, but allowed quota for them in educational institutions.