As West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee vows to move the Supreme Court against the Calcutta High Court order striking down the OBC status given to several classes in West Bengal granted since 2010, the BJP has sharpened its claws at the ruling party, accusing it of appeasement politics.
The HC verdict sparked a political debate in the middle of the Lok Sabha elections, considering the court's observation that the inclusion of 77 classes of Muslims in the list of backward categories was to treat them as a vote bank.
CM Mamata has already vowed to approach the Supreme Court against the decision, stating the state won't accept the HC verdict. She reiterated that the OBC reservation quota was introduced by the government after conducting a house-to-house survey before being cleared by the Cabinet. She also called out "BJP's audacity."
She said the SC, ST, and OBC get the rights as per the Constitution. "The 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?"
But, the BJP has seized the opportunity, welcoming the order. It claims that the order has exposed the INDIA alliance parties using reservation as a handle to serve their vote bank.
Naddha also hit out at Mamata for her refusal to accept the court's decision, stating that a CM should not disrespect the Constitution. Accusing the TMC government of minority appeasement, the BJP chief said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised this issue during the election campaigns and that the leaders of the INDI alliance are shredding the constitution.
"These judgements show how Mamata Banerjee's government was taking forward appeasement unconstitutionally or can be said that the Muslim agenda was being taken forward," the BJP president said. "It is written clearly in the Constitution that reservation will not given based on religion. Mamata Banerjee said that she does not agree with the decision of the High Court. There is no one above the law. PM Modi quoted the constitution and said that the reservation is not given based on religion," he said.
BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla also targeted the TMC. "One more proof of appeasing a vote bank by snatching the rights of OBC, SC-ST people has come to light," he said.
“When the Prime Minister even challenged them (INDI alliance) to write in writing that reservation will not be given on religious grounds or by cutting it from OBC, SC-ST quota, they did not accept this challenge. They keep saying to save the Constitution, but the court has said that giving reservations like this is against the Constitution. The court of law has given its answer to the TMC and soon the court of public opinion will also answer this," he added.
