KOLKATA: Terming
Calcutta HC
‘s order invalidating all OBC categorisations in Bengal since 2010 “BJP‘s verdict”, CM
Mamata Banerjee
declared on Wednesday, “We will not accept it. OBC reservation is continuing, and it will continue.”
Mamata, who was speaking at a campaign rally in Khardah on the outskirts of Kolkata, indicated that her govt would appeal in the
Supreme Court
.
“Today, I heard a judge who has become famous passed an order,” the CM said. “A retired judge (Chitta Ranjan Dash) announced, ‘I am a member of RSS’, and another one (Tamluk candidate Abhijit Gangopadhyay) has joined BJP. How can these people be trusted to ensure justice?”
Without naming the judge on the division bench that gave the OBC ruling, Mamata, who has previously invited censure for her outbursts against the judiciary, said, “How dare they? The court cannot be divisive. The country cannot be divisive. A dark chapter is unfolding.”
Mamata said that contrary to what the court’s order mentions, she had no role to play in
OBC categorisation
. “I didn’t do this (expand reservation). Upen Biswas (former CBI joint director and Bengal minister) was chairperson (of the State Backward Classes Commission) then. There was a house-to-house survey before that. This has been going on since 2012,” she said.
At another rally, in Panihati, Mamata accused Prime Minister
Narendra Modi
of using reservation as a divisive tool. “Over the past few days, the PM had been talking about improbable things. Today, the plan behind those statements became clear. He had been saying that Muslims would grab reservations meant for Tapashilis (SCs and STs) if INDIA bloc won. The Prime Minister sowed divisiveness between Hindus and Muslims, and the same thing was done through the court today,” the Bengal CM said.
She hastened to add, “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 OBC reservation, I don’t accept his judgment. I will move higher courts, if needed.” The CM said Modi was “playing with fire” by targeting reservations. “This (OBC categorisation) was passed in the cabinet and the assembly. There is a court verdict on it.”
Trinamool general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee said the judgment was part of “BJP’s effort to cancel reservation for SCs and STs”.
