KOLKATA: On a day when the Andhra Pradesh High Court struck down job reservation for Muslims, the West Bengal government on Monday announced 10 per cent quota in employment for the community under the OBC category.
The state government declared the quota for the Muslims who were educationally, socially and economically backward in the state.
"We have decided to accept the recommendations of the Ranganath Mishra Commission and will take steps to implement it," chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee told newsmen at the state secretariat without waiting for the Centre's decision on the report.
He said like other states there was reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs in the state. The government, he said, had begun the process of identifying Muslims who were educationally, socially and economically backward. There was 7 per cent reservation for OBCs in the state.
Earlier, the Parliament experienced a serious daylong debate. The leader from almost all the Political parties reiterated their faith in the supremacy of the Parliament. The debate was initiated by the leader of the opposition Sushma Swaraj with for beautifully articulated speech and concluded by senior minister Pranab Mukhergee. The proceeding of the debate is to be submitted to the standing committee for consideration.
