IITs and IIMs should implement reservation for OBCs : Raja

Chennai, Apr 8 (UNI) CPI national secretary today endorsed Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh's proposal of reserving 27 per cent quota in educational institutes for Other Backward classes saying centres of higher education like IITs and IIMs should no longer remain inaccessible to students from OBCs.

Taliking to newspersons here today, Mr Raja said, ''The CPI is for reservation...We are for reservation for SC, ST and to OBCs.

Institutions like IITs and IIMs cannot remain inaccessible to students coming from these sections''.

''For ages they have been denied this opportunity and it should be given at least now'', he added.

To a question, Mr Raja said the Centre announcing reservation for OBCs was not aimed at the elections in five states. ''It is an ongoing process and a follow-up of the amendments made to the constitution, he added.

On the issue of office of profit, Mr Raja said the Left parties now felt that time had come for everything to be defined and redofined.

He said parliament would take up the debate on the issue and there was a need for further clarity. ''Parliament is the only legitimate body to enact it'', he added.

On the recent developments in Nepal, Mr Raja said the CPI welcomed Maoists joining hands with the seven-party alliance to restore democracy.

Stating that his party was for multiparty democracy in the Himalayan Kingdom, he said the Indian government should not take any steps that would support the Monarchy. He also demanded the release of political leaders who have been detained in Nepal.

UNI GV AK KP1750