Buddhadeb defends job quota for OBC Muslims

KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today defended his government's job reservation policy for OBC Muslims and said it was now trying to solve the housing accommodation problem of the community.

"There is reservation of jobs for the people belonging to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Communities. There was no reservation for the Muslims in government. There should be equal opportunities. We have provided 10 per cent reservation for Muslims," Bhattacharjee said.

The state government had decided last year to institutionalise 17 per cent job quota for OBCs, including 10 per cent for Muslims, without naming them.

Reservation of jobs for the OBC Muslims is expected to be the centrepiece of the CPI(M)'s drive to win back the minorities who have deserted the Left, as shown from the result of several elections in the recent past.

"A society cannot progress if a part of it is left behind. So backward classes and Muslims had to be taken together if comprehensive development of the state was desired," the chief minister said.

"Muslims face a serious housing problem. Efforts are on to solve it by constructing housing projects for them," Bhattacharjee said in connection with inauguration of a student's hostel here.

The Muslims need not only to be educated, but they need to be imparted quality education as well, he said.

Bhattacharjee said the government would acquire 150 acres of land at Bhangar in South 24 paraganas district to set up Aliah University exclusive for promotion of education among the Muslims.