Did BJP Walk Out Over CM Mamata’s Comments on OBC Survey?
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Synopsis
West Bengal's political scene heated up as CM Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of stirring controversy over the OBC survey. With over 500,000 OBC certificates cancelled, the BJP staged a walkout in protest. What does this mean for the upcoming elections and the communities involved? Get the full story!
Key Takeaways
- Mamata Banerjee accused BJP of politicizing OBC survey.
- BJP staged a walkout during Assembly proceedings.
- Over 500,000 OBC certificates have been cancelled.
- Supreme Court allowed a new OBC survey to be conducted.
- The survey focuses on economic criteria, not religion.
Kolkata, June 10 (NationPress) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during her speech at the Assembly on the second day of the monsoon session on Tuesday, accused the opposition BJP of 'unnecessarily' stirring up controversies regarding the new list of Other Backward Class (OBC) communities compiled by the state government under a directive from the Supreme Court.
Banerjee claimed that the BJP was politicizing the matter, stating that the fresh survey for determining the eligible individuals for the OBC category has no religious implications.
“The OBC-A category includes 49 castes while the OBC-B category comprises 91 castes. Soon, an additional 50 castes will be added. The survey is conducted based on economic conditions, not religion,” she explained in the House.
Nevertheless, BJP legislators voiced their discontent, asserting that the Chief Minister was disseminating misleading information. They insisted that the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the state Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, should be permitted to respond to the Chief Minister’s remarks.
When the Speaker of the House, Biman Bandopadhyay, denied this request, the BJP members chose to stage a walkout.
Adhikari stated that the BJP's legal representatives would express their opinions on this issue during the upcoming Supreme Court hearing.
In May of last year, a division bench of the Calcutta High Court annulled all OBC certificates issued in West Bengal after 2010, which effectively invalidated all such certificates issued under the current Trinamool Congress administration since 2011.
This ruling from Justices Tapabrata Chakraborty and Rajasekhar Mantha resulted in over 500,000 OBC certificates being rendered useless for job reservation purposes.
The West Bengal government appealed the Calcutta High Court’s decision to the Supreme Court, which in March allowed the state to conduct a new survey to identify the OBCs.
The fresh survey is underway, but the BJP has consistently criticized the method and format adopted by the state government.
Adhikari contended that the new survey is being conducted similarly to the previous one, which was deemed invalid by the court.
Point of View
It is crucial to remain unbiased in reporting on the ongoing tensions between the West Bengal government and the BJP. The issues surrounding the OBC survey reflect deeper socio-political dynamics that require careful analysis and consideration. Our commitment lies in providing accurate and fair coverage of all perspectives involved.
NationPress
11/06/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the OBC survey controversy about?
The controversy revolves around the new list of OBC communities compiled by the West Bengal government, which has been criticized by the BJP for alleged politicization and misleading information.
Why did the BJP legislators walk out?
The BJP staged a walkout after the Speaker denied their request to allow the Leader of Opposition to respond to CM Mamata Banerjee's remarks.
What was the Calcutta High Court's ruling regarding OBC certificates?
The Calcutta High Court ruled that all OBC certificates issued in West Bengal after 2010 were cancelled, affecting over 500,000 individuals.
What has the Supreme Court decided about the OBC survey?
The Supreme Court permitted the West Bengal government to conduct a new survey to identify OBCs following the Calcutta High Court's annulment of prior certificates.
How many castes are included in the OBC categories?
Currently, there are 49 castes in the OBC-A category and 91 in the OBC-B category, with plans to add more.
