West Bengal Muslim quota: BJP opposes, Congress asks why now?

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BJP spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy said it was a reflection of the politics of appeasement of the ruling Left Front in West Bengal.

"This is a decision taken with an eye to next year's assembly elections. Politics of appeasement is central to the politics of the Left and the Congress," Rudy told IANS here.

He said the decision will meet the same fate as the Andhra Pradesh law providing four percent reservation in government jobs and educational institutions to 15 socially and educationally backward classes among the Muslims.

"I feel the decision of the West Bengal government will meet the same fate as the religion-based law of Andhra Pradesh that has been quashed by the state high court," Rudy said, adding that such a decision will be in the interest of the country.

He said the BJP does not favour religion-based reservation policy.

Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed said the decision had come after over 30 years of Left parties' rule in West Bengal and wondered if it had been announced only for political consumption.

"The decision has come after 30 years of Left rule. Why have they announced the decision near the assembly polls?" he said.

To queries about the Congress' stand, Ahmed said the party was not opposed to the decision.

Asked if the party will press the central government to make similar move, he said: "That is not the issue now."

The Left government in West Bengal Monday announced 10 per cent reservation in government jobs for other backward classes among the Muslims. But in Hyderabad, the Andhra Pradesh High Court quashed a state law providing four per cent jobs to certain identified backward classes among the Muslims.