Taking a step in the direction of giving Muslims a quota in education and jobs, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday told the Legislative Assembly that the government would ask the State Backward Class Commission to survey the caste groups of Muslims for their social and economic status. Fadnavis maintained that the Muslims would not get any quota on the basis of religion, but the castes that need the protection would be considered after conducting a due process.

The CM's response came in reaction to the demand raised by legislators belonging to the Muslim community and opposition leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil. They demanded that the five per cent quota that the previous government had given to the community be reinstated quoting the example of the recently-passed 16 per cent quota for Marathas. "I will convene a meeting of legislators belonging to the Muslim community and group leaders to decide the future course of action," Fadnavis assured the house.