Calcutta HC’s OBC Order Feeds BJP’s ‘Muslim Quota’ Charge Against Opposition in Poll Home Stretch

The Calcutta HC canceling Muslim OBC certificates in Bengal has provided fresh ammunition to the BJP, which has accused the opposition INDIA alliance of Muslim appeasement through such quotas as polling for the last phases continues.

The Calcutta High Court has recently quashed the OBC certificates granted to some Muslim communities of West Bengal and the BJP has again accused the opposition INDIA alliance of ‘Muslim appeasement’ in the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

The court held that all OBC certificates issued to certain classes in the state since 2010 were unconstitutional. The National Commission for Backward Classes lists 179 castes in Bengal’s OBC list, out of which 118 belong to Muslims.

Speaking at a rally in Delhi on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the judgment as a ‘slap on the INDI alliance’, and accused the Trinamool Congress of providing ‘Muslims OBC certificates for their vote bank politics. He accused the opposition of intending to allocate 15% of the budget for minorities only.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah while campaigning in Bengal was critical of CM Mamata Banerjee’s statement that she “will not accept” the order and questioned if such a Chief Minister is possible who goes against court orders.

BJP has expanded its criticism not only to TMC but also other INDIA partners including RJD in Bihar, SP and Congress in Uttar Pradesh, and JMM in Jharkhand over Muslim appeasement through OBC quota.

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As the election campaign moves into the last two phases with key polls in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Delhi, the BJP is again trying to roll out its core agenda of Muslim appeasement against its rivals.