Modi depriving minorities, Dalits, Adivasis of opportunities: Mamata on quota bill

New Delhi, Jan 10: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday (January 10) accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government of bluffing those who belong to general category. Banerjee's jibe came after the quota bill was passed by Upper House on January 9.

Banerjee said, "Firstly, those in general category do not have many opportunities; and whatever little they had that too has now been sealed within 10 per cent... This will be catastrophic."

"There are not many government job opportunities and now the government has further sealed opportunities for the general category. A farmer's child, a labourer's child, a teacher's child will no longer get a job. The poor won't get that 10 per cent jobs, so the common man will suffer, they have been silenced. Dalit, Adivasis and minorities have been deprived of opportunities," she alleged while addressing a government event in Nadia district in West Bengal.

Banerjee also expressed her doubts over the possibility of implementing such a reservation policy.

"This can never be implemented and even if it gets implemented it will be detrimental. The SC [Supreme Court] has ordered no more reservation than 50 per cent... When we did it in Bengal we did stick to the cap but now they have extended it to 60 per cent," Banerjee added.

She said, "I am telling you, the Modi government will announce another jumla, they will announce Rs 15,000 direct cash benefit for farmers... Let me tell you in advance, it will be another gimmick!"