Law will take its own course, says Mamata on HC’s OBC order
Times of India | 19 June 2025
Kolkata: Reacting to Calcutta High Court's stay on the state govt's OBC list that was notified on June 3, CM Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said the law would take its own course. Pointing out that the stay was till July 31, she said the final order was still awaited."It is an interim order, not the final judgment," Banerjee said, adding: "I cannot criticise the judge, but the judgment."The CM said govt had received "some suggestions and some orders" from HC on Tuesday and the legal team was examining them."In the SC, we took three months' time. We will see legally what suits us," she said.Saying the state had followed the HC's rules, Banerjee said: "We did not do the survey; it was done by West Bengal Backward Class Commission."Taking aim at the opposition, she said: "CPM and BJP do not want reservation for OBC. It is for the poor and particularly for economically and socially backward people.""How can we deprive 33% of people of their rights? There are 60 non-Muslim castes among the 140 on the OBC list. Some people seem to be irritated at the sight og Muslims. But they must remember that Netaji's right hand was Shahnawaz Khan. It was Shah Jahan who built the Taj Mahal. How can you wipe out history?" the CM said.Kazi Nazrul Islam and Rabindranath Tagore, too, wanted Hindus and Muslims to stay united, the CM said, adding: "Why was Madam (Colonel Sofiya) Qureshi given the brief after the Pahalgam incident?" In the Army, Banerjee said, all religions were allowed and followed. There was even a dargah in Belur Math, she added.The CM also slammed BJP for "blocking jobs through PILs". "Many people are jobless because of you. There are thousands of vacant posts in police and for teachers, but the vacancies cannot be filled due to you," she said."OBC reservation was done by former PM VP Singh, and at the time, BJP supported him. Why didn't BJP oppose him then? They are trying to dictate to people in all fields and in all matters, ranging from what to eat and what to read and where to stay." the CM said.Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh told reporters: "BJP is an anti-OBC party... One must look at the conspiracy by the opposition here... We have faith in the judiciary, but one must take note of who the architects were... The picture that is emerging is similar to what we have seen before. We saw that in this HC — those who made big statements on recruitment stepped aside to become BJP MPs. Now, they want to damage OBCs and create unrest.""Their politics is of creating legal hurdles, whereas we work towards resolving issues," he added.