AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that Muslims remain underrepresented in the government sector and continue to face poor socio-economic conditions under the TMC government.
Speaking to journalists in Patna, Owaisi described the representation of Muslims in state government jobs as “unsatisfactory” and questioned the effectiveness of policies aimed at improving their condition.
‘Dual Approach’ Allegation
Responding to a question about the TMC releasing its election manifesto in Urdu, Owaisi said the move reflected a “dual face” approach.
“While her party has released its manifesto in Urdu, the representation of Muslims in West Bengal government jobs remains unsatisfactory,” he said.
He pointed out that Muslims constitute nearly 29 percent of the state’s population but account for only around 7 percent of government jobs, raising concerns over equitable representation.
Concerns Over Poverty and Education
Owaisi further claimed that Muslims in regions such as Malda and Murshidabad live in “abject poverty.” He also alleged that the community faces high school dropout rates, particularly among girls, along with low literacy levels.
Referring to a recent legal development, he said that the Calcutta High Court had cancelled around five lakh OBC certificates last year, of which approximately three lakh belonged to Muslims.
Political Context and Alliance
Owaisi’s remarks come ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, scheduled to be held in two phases on April 23 and 29, with counting on May 4. His party has formed an alliance with suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir’s Aam Janata Unnayan Party in the state, adding a new dimension to the electoral contest.
Criticism of Centre Over Parliament Session
The AIMIM leader also criticised the Centre for reconvening the Budget Session of Parliament to pass bills aimed at increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 816 to facilitate the implementation of women’s reservation.
He argued that such bills should ideally be introduced after April 29, when polling concludes, as many MPs are currently engaged in election campaigning.
“It will suddenly be given to us on April 16, the day the Budget session reconvenes. We need time to study the bills presented in Parliament to form an opinion,” Owaisi said, alleging that this reflects the BJP’s usual approach.
