Following the annulment of the OBC reservation in West Bengal, Rajasthan’s reservation list is now under threat. Rajasthan’s Social Justice Minister Avinash Gehlot has hinted at reassessing the OBC reservation. Simultaneously, the Rajasthan government is targeting 14 Muslim castes, considering their removal from the OBC reservation list.
Rajasthan’s Social Justice Minister Avinash Gehlot has announced that the reconsideration of the OBC reservation list, including 14 Muslim castes, will take place after June 4. The decision to grant reservation to certain individuals between 1997 and 2013 will also undergo review. Avinash Gehlot cited the impending conclusion of the general elections on June 4, after which the country’s code of conduct will expire, as the reason for postponing the consideration of OBC reservation until after this date.
He stated that according to the Constitution, Ambedkar has prohibited granting reservation based on religion. However, the Congress government provided reservation to certain Muslim castes as a form of appeasement. Between 1997 and 2013, the Congress government included 13-14 Muslim castes in the OBC category. Circulars regarding this matter are also in our possession. The department and the government will now undertake a review of this decision.
What did Bhajan Lal Sharma Say On OBC Reservation
During the election campaign in Lucknow, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma also defended the decision of the Calcutta High Court. CM Bhajan Lal Sharma accused the opposition parties, stating that they have exceeded all limits in engaging in vote bank politics.
On May 22, 2024, the Calcutta High Court nullified the OBC reservation acquired after 2010. The High Court deemed reservation certificates obtained between 2011 and 2014 unlawful and mandated the issuance of a new reservation list. This decision dealt a significant blow to the Bengal government. As a result, the OBC certificates of 77 castes, primarily comprising Muslim castes, were invalidated.
It’s notable that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee rejected the High Court’s ruling. Clearly, this decision could significantly influence the Lok Sabha elections. The Trinamool Congress had heavily emphasized it as a key election issue, but now the party might endure substantial consequences due to the annulment of the reservation.
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