In the wake of Ajit Pawar's death, 75 educational institutions in Maharashtra were granted minority status, leading to a political uproar and calls for investigation into the swift decision.
Following the death of Ajit Pawar, a prominent political figure in Maharashtra, a political controversy erupted regarding the grant of minority status to 75 educational institutions in the state. This decision was made unusually quickly, within just four days post the incident, raising questions about the appropriateness and intent behind such rapid approvals. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis responded to the backlash by imposing a halt on the recognition granted to these schools and forming a high-level committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the decision.
The minority status, which is overseen by the Maharashtra Minority Commission, was previously under Ajit Pawar’s domain. Since August 2025, no institutions had been issued any certification, making the sudden approval of 75 schools during a period of official mourning particularly controversial. This swift action occurred just after Ajit Pawar's tragic death in an accident, prompting allegations of misuse of authority and political favoritism.
Pyaare Khan, the chairman of the Maharashtra Minority Commission, expressed serious concerns about the haste with which these approvals were made, labeling it as alarmingly irregular. He has publicly called for an in-depth investigation to examine why such a significant number of institutions were granted minority status in such a short timeframe, a move that has raised suspicions regarding adherence to legal and ethical standards in the minority status application process.
