Paschim Bardhaman, May 22: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday welcomed the decision of the Calcutta High Court to cancel all OBC certificates issued in the state after 2010 and said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wants "to rob the reservation of backward classes for her vote bank and give that reservation to Muslim castes".

In an exclusive interview with ANI, Amit Shah also targeted Congress over "religion-based reservation" stating that the BJP is strongly opposed to it. "Mamata Banerjee gave OBC reservation to 118 Muslim castes without any survey. Someone went to the court, the court took cognizance of this and all the certificates issued between 2010 and 2024 have been cancelled by the HC. Mamata Banerjee wants to rob the reservation of backward classes for her vote bank and give that reservation to Muslim castes. I welcome the decision of the High Court," Shah said. OBC Certificate Cancelled in West Bengal: Calcutta High Court Cancels All Other Backward Class Certificates in State After 2010

Shah also slammed Mamata Banerjee over her remarks that she will not accept the High Court judgement. "I want to ask the people of Bengal, can there be such a Chief Minister, who will say that we do not obey the court's order?" he asked. "I strongly condemn this and welcome the decision of the High Court and we will definitely ensure that the decision of the High Court is implemented...Congress looted the reservation of OBC in Telangana and Karnataka. Now Mamata Banerjee has looted the reservation of OBC. These people want to snatch the reservation of backward class, SC, ST and give it to minorities and especially Muslims. BJP strongly opposes this. BJP strongly opposes reservation on the basis of any religion," he added.

Shah said that people who deserve the reservation should get it. "Because of appeasement and vote bank policies, those who are not backward, should not get the benefit of reservation," Shah said. Hours after the Calcutta High Court cancelled OBC certificates issued in West Bengal after 2010, Mamata Banerjee said she will not accept the judgement and "OBC reservation continues and will always continue".

Addressing a poll rally at Khardah under the Dumdum Lok Sabha constituency, she attacked the BJP. "Even today I heard a judge passing an order, who has been very famous. The Prime Minister is saying that minorities will take away the Tapasheeli reservation, can this ever happen? Minorities can never touch the Tapasheeli or tribal reservation, but these mischievous people (BJP) get their work done through agencies, they have got the order through someone but I will not accept this opinion...Those who have given the order should keep it to themselves, we will not accept the opinion of BJP, OBC reservation continues and will always continue," she said. OBC Certificate Cancelled in West Bengal: 'I Don’t Accept Calcutta HC’s OBC Certificate Cancellation Order', Says CM Mamata Banerjee

The Trinamool Congress chief also referred to the Calcutta High Court last month in which it ordered the cancellation of appointments of over 25,700 teachers and non-teaching staff made through State Level Selection Test-2016 (SLST) in state-run schools. She alleged that these teachers lost their jobs "due to BJP". "When 26,000 people lost their jobs because of the BJP, I said that I would not accept it. Similarly, I am telling you today, that I do not accept this opinion," she said.

"This [OBC reservation] was passed in cabinet and assembly, and there is a court verdict on the same. They are doing games ahead of elections with these things," she added. The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday cancelled all OBC certificates issued in West Bengal after 2010. The court has directed the West Bengal Backward Classes Commission to prepare a new list of OBCs in accordance with the 1993 Act. Those who were in the OBC list before 2010 will remain. However, after 2010, OBC nominations have been cancelled.

Approximately 5 lakh OBC certificates are set to be cancelled.

After 2010, those who have jobs under the OBC quota or are in the process of getting them cannot be excluded from the quota. There will be no impact on their job and they cannot be excluded from the quota. Polling in West Bengal is being held in seven phases of Lok Sabha polls. Polling has already been done in five phases and the voting for remaining two phases will be held on May 25 and June 1. Votes will be counted on June 4.

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