Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya announced on Thursday that the government would thoroughly examine the reservations granted to Muslim communities under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category by previous administrations in the state. He said that reservations should not be based on religion.
“Congress, Samajwadi Party, TMC and other parties of INDIA always talk about the rights of OBC. But they always cheat them. OBC certificates in Bengal were given to infiltrators and Muslims in Bengal from 2010-2024. It was like a knife in the chest for the OBC community. Calcutta HC order should be implemented with immediate effect. In other states, similar investigations should be done. In Uttar Pradesh, we will also do a detailed review regarding it. We won’t allow anyone to snatch OBC reservations,” Keshav Prasad Maurya told ANI.
The Deputy Chief Minister accused previous governments of using such tactics to secure the vote bank of a particular community, which he deemed unconstitutional.
“All their black deeds will be revealed. Any anomalies which have been done under the previous SP, BSP, or Congress government will be investigated. The Constitution does not allow reservation based on religion. In the report of the Mandal Commission, many Muslim sects have been included. It is my personal recommendation that the report should also be scrutinized,” he said.
The Calcutta High Court’s decision to cancel OBC certificates issued after 2010 in West Bengal has sparked controversy, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee opposing the ruling and vowing to continue OBC reservations. She indicated readiness to appeal the decision in higher courts if necessary.
