West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on May 22 asserted that she “will not accept” the Calcutta High Court order scrapping the OBC status of several classes in the State. She hinted that the government could challenge the order in the Supreme Court.
Addressing an election rally at Khardah under the Dumdum Lok Sabha constituency, Ms. Banerjee said the OBC reservation would continue in the State, as the Bill concerned was passed within the framework of the Constitution.
“The OBC reservation quota introduced by the West Bengal government will continue. We had drafted the Bill after conducting a house-to-house survey, and it was passed by the Cabinet and the Assembly,” she said. “If necessary, we will move a higher court (against the order),” the TMC supremo said.
The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday struck down the OBC status of several classes in West Bengal, finding such reservations under an Act of 2012 to vacancies in services and posts in the state illegal.
She accused the BJP of conspiring to stall the OBC quota by using central agencies. “Some people have gone to the court, moved a petition to sabotage the interest of OBCs and then this development takes place. How can the saffron party show such audacity?” she said.
She asked the BJP whether the government would be run by it or the court.
After its conspiracy in Sandeshkhali failed, the BJP is now plotting new conspiracies, she said. “For vote politics, for staying in power for five years, you (BJP) are doing all these things,” Ms. Banerjee said. This happened when Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged that the opposition INDIA bloc, if voted to power in the Lok Sabha elections, would scrap the quotas of the SC, ST and OBC people, she said.
She said, “SC, ST, OBC get the rights as per the Constitution. Minorities also have their rights. Can anyone say that he will frame legislation only for the benefit of Hindus and leave out Muslims and other communities?”
The TMC boss charged the BJP with always playing the politics of caste, quota and religion and dividing people.
