Opposition’s vote bank politics exposed by Calcutta HC’s verdict, says BJP

BJP accused the INDIA bloc of indulging in appeasement politics, a day after the Calcutta High Court invalidated the OBC certificates granted by the West Bengal government after 2010.

The BJP on Thursday accused the Opposition INDIA bloc of indulging in appeasement politics, a day after the Calcutta High Court invalidated the Other Backward Classes (OBC) certificates granted by the West Bengal government after 2010.

The party claimed that the people of India would give a fitting reply to the Opposition’s politics.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP’s national headquarters in New Delhi, former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and senior BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan flagged a statement by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee that her government would appeal the verdict and said that the High Court’s verdict was a “tight slap” on those pursuing vote bank politics.

“Appeasement is the dose and diet of parties like the Congress and the Trinamool Congress. Without this, they cannot survive even a day,” he said. He added that Ms. Banerjee had pursued vote bank politics and gave OBC certificates to a number of castes and the beneficiaries included Muslims, Bangladeshis and Rohingyas.

“The Calcutta High Court’s decision in the matter that came on Wednesday was a tight slap on Ms. Banerjee’s vote bank politics,” he said.

The Calcutta High Court had, on Wednesday struck down as illegal the OBC status of several classes in West Bengal granted since 2010. The court observed that the inclusion of 77 classes of Muslims in the list was to “treat them as vote bank.”

“What does Mamata Banerjee think of herself? Is she above the Constitution? This is the height of arrogance and anarchy,” he charged. The BJP leader said that Ms Bannerjee had no right to continue to hold the post of Chief Minister who provided reservation on the basis of religion in violation of the Constitution.