The Aryavarth Express
Agency (West Bengal): Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a sharp critique of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday over her reaction to the Calcutta High Court’s cancellation of all Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates issued in the state after 2010. Addressing a rally in Barasat, Modi questioned if the Trinamool Congress (TMC) would retaliate against judges following unfavorable rulings.
Modi accused the TMC of betraying OBC youth by supporting “appeasement politics” and “vote jihad,” claiming the party has snatched the rights of OBCs in West Bengal. The high court’s verdict on May 22 directed the authorities to prepare a new OBC list in accordance with the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993, leading to the cancellation of approximately five lakh OBC certificates.
The court’s order has ignited a political controversy. Chief Minister Banerjee has vowed not to accept the judgement, asserting that OBC reservations will continue in West Bengal. She accused the BJP of using central agencies to sabotage the quota system.
Modi criticized Banerjee’s stance, suggesting that the TMC does not tolerate exposure of its “treachery and lies” and questioned the party’s faith in the judiciary and the Constitution. He expressed concern over the TMC’s unprecedented attacks on judges and asked if the party would now target judges as they have been exposed.
The high court’s judgement, delivered by justices Tapabrata Chakraborty and Rajasekhar Mantha, struck down several classes listed for OBC reservation under the West Bengal Backward Classes (Other than Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) (Reservation of Vacancies in Services and Posts) Act, 2012. However, the court clarified that the order would not affect those who are already in service, have availed the benefit of reservation, or have succeeded in any state selection process.