Muslims cannot be granted reservation on the basis of religion ! : Nitesh Rane, Minister for Fisheries

Mumbai, July 10 (News) – The Maharashtra Government has made it clear that Muslims may be eligible for reservation based on caste, but reservation cannot be granted based on religion. Fisheries and Ports Development Minister Nitesh Rane stated this in the Legislative Assembly on behalf of the Government.

Congress MLA Amin Patel demanded that Muslim students be granted 10% reservation in education in accordance with the court’s directions. Responding on behalf of the Minority Development Department, Food and Drug Administration Minister Narhari Zirwal said in the House that action would be taken in accordance with the court’s orders.

Minister Nitesh Rane then intervened, saying, “Do not put words into Minister Narhari Zirwal’s mouth,” and clarified the Government’s stand that while Muslims may receive a reservation based on caste, a reservation cannot be granted based on religion.

₹60 crore allocated to the Minority Development Department! – Minister Narhari Zirwal

On July 10, during Question Hour, Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi demanded the immediate sanction of pending scholarships for minority students.

In response, Minister Narhari Zirwal presented details of the funds allocated by the Government to the Minority Development Department from 2023 to 2027. He informed the House that ₹60 crore had been allocated to the Department for the financial year 2026–27.

Congress MLA Amit Deshmukh remarked that the Government had paid little attention to the Minority Development Department and demanded approval for Urdu centres, libraries and residential schools for minorities. Minister Zirwal assured the House that efforts would be made in this regard.

During the discussion, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal stated that there are various castes within the Muslim community and that they already receive benefits under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.

Do not close ITIs to approve Urdu schools! – Rahul Narwekar, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly

Rahul Narwekar stated that approval for land allotted to an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) had been withdrawn, and the land had been allotted to an Urdu school. He said that such a decision was not appropriate.

He added that separate arrangements could be made for Urdu schools, but Industrial Training Institutes should not be closed to approve Urdu schools.