Job quota for Muslims in West Bengal a political gimmick: Congress

February 09, 2010 08:42 pm | Updated December 15, 2016 04:20 am IST - New Delhi

Congress on Tuesday rubbished as a “political gimmick” West Bengal government’s announcement of job reservation to Muslims and questioned the intention behind the decision.

“We should wait and watch and assess the situation. Are they doing this only to make political gains? It seems to be a political gimmick. Congress will keep an eye on it on whether the State government has made the announcement just to mislead people,” Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmad told reporters.

He was replying to questions on West Bengal government’s announcement of 10 per cent quota in jobs for the community under the OBC category and its decision to accept the recommendations of Ranganath Misra Commission report.

Mr. Ahmad said the Left Front is in power in West Bengal for the last 30 years but only 2.4 per cent Muslims are in government jobs in the State despite they constitute around 30 per cent of the total population there.

“Left Front is losing one election after another there. Civic body polls in the State are around and Assembly election is also happening in a little over a year. This gives rise to doubts whether all this is being done keeping in mind the elections,” he said.

Mr. Ahmad at the same time made it clear that Congress is not opposing the State government’s move.

He also refused to accept that the CPI (M) has put Congress on back foot by accepting Rangnath Misra Commission report while the UPA government, which constituted the Commission, is yet to take a final view on it.

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