Kolkata, May 23 (FN Representative) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP as “anti-OBC” and “anti-Scheduled caste and scheduled tribe” and said she wouldn’t accept a Calcutta High Court order cancelling all OBC certificates issued in the state after 2010.The chief minister said her government would appeal to a higher court against the judgement.It may be mentioned the Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress came to power in the state in 2011. The Division Bench comprising justices Tarapada Chakraborty and Rajasekhar Mantha struck down the West Bengal Backward Classes (Other than Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) (Reservation of Vacancies in Services and Posts) Act, 2012 section 2H, 5, 6 and Section 16 and Schedule I and III as ‘unconstitutional’, sources added.Court sources said the order would affect some 5,00,000 ( five lakh) recipients of Other Backward Classes.Addressing election meetings, Banerjee said, “Today, I heard a judge, who has been famous, pass an order. PM has been talking about how minorities will snatch away the Tapashili reservation. How can this ever happen? It would lead to a constitutional breakdown. Minorities can never touch the Tapashili or Adivasi reservations. But these mischievous people [BJP] get their work done through agencies.” Banerjee said she won’t accept the order.“They got an order passed today, but I don’t accept it. When 26,000 people lost their jobs because of the BJP, I said that I would not accept it. Similarly, I am telling you today that I do not accept the order. We won’t accept BJP’s order. The OBC reservation will continue. Imagine their audacity. This is a Kalankit chapter in the country,” she asserted.
Banerjee said the OBC certificates were issued by her government based on the recommendations of a committee led by Upen Biswas.“This wasn’t done by me. Upen Biswas had done it. Surveys had been conducted before implementing the OBC reservation. Cases were filed earlier as well, but there was no outcome in this,” Banerjee stated. “Why don’t they talk about policies in BJP-ruled states?” she asked. Banerjee said the OBC reservation was passed in the cabinet and the Assembly. Accusing the BJP of playing games during the poll season in her state, she alleged the saffron out was hatching multiple conspiracies. “ Conspiracy 1: Sandeshkhali was exposed. Conspiracy 2: communal riots. Conspiracy 3: can PM ever say that minorities will seize Tapashili reservation? He cannot. This is a constitutional guarantee.” “I have received the order. I will do the khela now,” she further said. “For the past few days, the PM has been talking about improbable things. Today, the plan behind those statements became clear. He had been saying that Muslims would take away the reservation for Tapashilis if they [INDIA] won.Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of sowing divisions between Hindus and Muslims. she said he entire world would condemn such statements. “This was the same thing that was done through courts today. Not everyone in the courts is bad.
I respect the judiciary. But the person who has given the order saying Muslims must be removed from the OBC reservation I don’t accept their judgment. I will not accept it. The OBC reservation will continue. I will move the higher courts if needed,” Banerjee maintained. Banerjee alleged that Modi was trying to cancel reservations for the scheduled castes and tribes. “They don’t know me. I am not someone who will bow down to their whims. I have said this repeatedly. Why would Muslims want to snatch the Tapashili reservation? They are making these statements because they don’t like them. Modi Babu is playing with fire. He is trying to cancel Tapashili reservation, but I will not allow him to do this. Do not blame the Muslims on this,” she iterated.“Tapashilis and Minorities should know the real reason behind this. The Uniform Civil Code is mentioned in BJP’s manifesto, and as soon as it is implemented, Tapashili, Adivasi, and OBC Reservations will cease to exist. Modi Babu wants to take away the Tapashili Reservation, but I will not allow for the same,” Banerjee said.