As Mamata govt reinstates 74 castes in Bengal OBC list, why BJP says Hindus deprived

India Today

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On June 10, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee presented the annual report of the West Bengal Commission for Backward Classes (WBCBC) for the financial year 2024-25 in the legislative assembly, where she defended her government's recent decision to expand the OBC (Other Backward Classes) list.Speaking from the floor of the House, Mamata emphatically denied allegations that her administration was using religion as a criterion for reservations, asserting that socio-economic backwardness alone determined eligibility.advertisementIn a significant move, the state cabinet, led by Mamata, had earlier cleared the inclusion of 76 additional castes to the OBC list. Of these, 74 had previously lost recognition due to a Calcutta High Court ruling, and have now been reinstated following due procedure. The two new additions—Sadgope and Nepali Brahmin—are being included for the first time.In a politically significant move, the state cabinet, led by Mamata, had a day earlier cleared the inclusion of 76 additional castes to the OBC list. Of these, 74 had previously lost recognition due to a Calcutta High Court ruling, and have now been reinstated following due procedure. The two new additions—Sadgope and Nepali Brahmin—are being included for the first time.
Importantly, of the 140 communities currently recommended by the commission for inclusion under OBC categories, 79 belong to Muslim communities and 61 to non-Muslim groups—highlighting that, in terms of sheer numerical representation, the majority of recognised OBC sub-castes in West Bengal remain Muslim.advertisementThis religious composition has become a flashpoint in the political discourse, with the Opposition BJP alleging that the OBC policy has been meddled with to appease Muslims. In fact, this was the point of contention that led to the cancellation of the previous OBC list.In her address, Mamata pushed back against what she called a 'baseless' campaign. 'A section is trying to spread the falsehood that our government is giving reservation on the basis of religion. This is completely untrue. The OBC list is not—and will not be—prepared on religious grounds,' she said.The WBCBC conducted fresh surveys following a May 2024 Calcutta High Court judgment, which struck down the inclusion of 109 castes in the OBC list, citing procedural lapses. These inclusions, made since 2010 under the previous Left Front government and continued under Trinamool Congress (TMC) rule, were invalidated as they did not meet judicial standards for evidence-based backwardness. The ruling was a significant setback to the state government's affirmative action framework.Mamata clarified that the state government has challenged the high court ruling in the Supreme Court and, with the apex court's permission, resumed the process of inclusion based on new data. 'The Supreme Court gave us three months to prepare a fresh list. The commission carried out field-level socio-economic surveys, and based on that, we compiled a revised list of 140 communities—49 in Category A (more backward) and 91 in Category B (less backward),' Mamata said.advertisementDetailing the ongoing work, Mamata said surveys were underway for another 50 communities. According to sources, among these 50, 41 are very small in terms of population size, seven are newly applying classes, and two are undergoing re-survey. The chief minister said the aim was to complete the process before the Supreme Court's deadline.She also emphasised the empirical and scientific nature of the methodology. 'The WBCBC has done a meticulous job. We categorised communities into OBC-A and OBC-B based on the depth of backwardness. The more deprived sections have been placed in Category A, which is entitled to 10 per cent reservation. Those relatively less backward are in Category B, which has 7 per cent reservation,' Mamata explained.The revalidation of OBC status, she added, is critical for restarting halted recruitment processes in various government departments and educational institutions. 'As soon as the list is finalised, we can move ahead with pending recruitments,' she told the legislative assembly.However, the Opposition, particularly the BJP, was quick to push back. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari attempted to respond to Mamata's statement, but assembly speaker Biman Banerjee adjourned the House before he could speak, prompting BJP legislators to erupt in protest.advertisement'The chief minister was unwilling to take questions from the Opposition. The ruling party essentially fled the House because they know Hindus are being deprived. We will continue our fight for justice,' Adhikari told the media outside the assembly.Accusing the state government of communalising the reservation process, he said: 'I challenge the chief minister to publish the full list of the newly added castes. Let people see for themselves how many are from Hindu backgrounds and how many are Muslim. The BJP will be a party to the case in the Supreme Court, which is scheduled for hearing on July 15, and we will defend the interests of Hindu backward communities.'The state government maintains that all documentation, data and evidence used in determining eligibility have been placed before the assembly. 'This process has followed all legal and procedural norms. Religion has no role here,' Mamata reiterated.The political stakes are high. With the 2026 assembly polls looming, the TMC's recalibration of OBC classifications and the BJP's sharp counteroffensive point to a deepening battle over identity, welfare and the arithmetic of electoral mobilisation. For now, the debate is likely to intensify both in the courtroom and on the campaign trail.advertisementWhile, there would still be questions from BJP lawmakers regarding the authenticity of the list—since the majority of the classes classified so far are still Muslims—the WBCBC claims to have followed due process. 'There is evidence that proves that all these Muslim communities live in poverty and are extremely backward,' a source in the government said.Subscribe to India Today Magazine