Bareilly, September 18, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Amid the ongoing debate over reservations in Maharashtra, All India Muslim Jamaat president Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi on Friday said reservation was no longer required in the country, arguing that social and economic conditions had changed significantly over the past few decades.
Bareilvi said the circumstances that had originally led to the reservation system had changed, with improvements in the economic, social and educational conditions of people across sections of society.
“The conditions have changed to a great extent for people. The houses of those who used to have thatched roofs now live in well-built homes,” he said.
He also pointed to changes in household purchasing power as an indication of improved economic conditions.
“Earlier, people could not afford a bicycle can afford two to three motorcycles and four-wheeler vehicles. So, there have been significant changes in their economic situation, social situation, and educational situation,” Bareilvi said.
He argued that all sections should now be treated under the General category to avoid discrimination.
“Therefore, now no section needs reservation; everyone should be given General status, so there is no discrimination,” he said.
Bareilvi also referred to the protests and competing demands for reservation by different communities in Maharashtra. He said the issue could put governments under pressure and called for steps to bring the situation under control.
“I have witnessed that in the last two-three decades the nation has achieved many strides, and that issue of reservation should now be resolved,” he said.
The remarks come amid continued political debate in Maharashtra over demands for Maratha reservation and the question of inclusion in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota.
BJP MLA Ram Kadam, while addressing the issue of Congress’ concerns over the OBC quota in the context of Maratha reservation, said the Maratha community was aware of the state government’s position on the matter.
Kadam said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had provided the first reservation for the Maratha community and claimed that 12 of the community’s 13 demands had been fulfilled. He said the remaining demand was under the jurisdiction of the courts and would not withstand legal scrutiny.
He added that the key issue was that people in Maharashtra understood that the present state government stood with them.
The reservation debate continues to remain a politically sensitive issue in Maharashtra, with different communities raising demands and political parties taking varying positions on the matter.
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