By Muslim Mirror Staff

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Imtiyaz Jaleel on Moday declared that his party won’t contest local body polls in Maharashtra if the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress-led government in the state restores reservation for Muslims.

“Every time we raise our voice for the quota for Muslims, ruling party leaders say it’s a poll gimmick. To prove our point, it is our open challenge to the government that we will not contest in any upcoming local poll in Maharashtra if it gives reservation to Muslims,” he was quoted by Times of India as saying.

5% reservation was granted to Muslims in 2013 by the NCP-led government in Maharashtra but it was revoked by the BJP government in 2014.

Jaleel warned the Maharashtra government saying that the AIMIM will intensify its agitation if a bill is not tabled in the state assembly in support of Muslim reservation.