Reservation bad for India's progress: Ramdev

New Delhi, Apr 8 (UNI) Renowned yoga exponent and Chancellor of Patanjali Yogapeeth University Swami Ramdev today denounced reservations in educational institutions, saying admission should always be on merit.

To a query on the ongoing controversy over 'Reservation II' in IITs, IIMs and Central Universities, the Swami said nationhood was important for the country to develop.

''Reservation, which sprung from caste factors, was not good for a forward looking outlook. Merit should be the sole criterion.'' On his own university, which was working on the research and development of yoga sciences, he said in Patanjali Yogapeeth University there would be no reservation and everything would be on merit.

Reservation I believe curbs real potential and demoralises the competent, he added.

UNI PC/AN ARB BS1935