No violation of model code, contends Arjun

New Delhi, Apr 9: Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh today stoutly denied having violated the model code of conduct in ''announcing'' a 27 per cent quota for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in Central Government-funded educational institutions.

''There was no announcement of any concession much less any other breach of the model code of conduct, as mentioned in your letter.

There is no basis even for a prima facie view to that effect,'' he told the Election Commission, which had sought an explanation from him in this regard.

In an angry response, the Minister criticised the Commission for seeking an explanation from him merely on the basis of media reports and for having ''concluded that the alleged announcement'' amounted to new concession to certain sections of the electorate in poll-bound states. The EC had also not specified which provision of the model code he had violated, he said. He attached clippings of news reports where he was quoted as having said in reply to a specific question earlier this month that the Government would take a decision and announce it only after the elections to the five state assemblies are over.

''Article 15(5) of the Constitution came into force on the 20th January, 2006 -- the date on which it received the Presidential assent. Thus advancement of socially and educationally backward classes of citizens (OBCs) in matters of admission -- including reservation of seats and any other means -- is an existing constitutional scheme and by no stretch of imagination is a new announcement,'' he said.

Mr Singh gave a chronology of major events and steps taken by the Central Government for advancement of OBCs to buttress his point that the process had ''been in motion much before the coming into force of the Model Code of Conduct on March one, 2006,'' in respect of elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and the union territory of Pondicherry.

''I categorically deny that at any time before or on the 5th of April, 2006 or subsequently, any announcement has been made in respect of any percentage of reservations in favour of any sections of the society or have said any thing on the matter which is not already in the public domain or which is inconsistent with the all-Party consensus arrived at in Parliament leading to the Constitutional amendment,'' he said.

In this context, he recalled his reply to a debate in the Lok Sabha on December 21 last year when he had assured the House that the Government was planning to address the problem of OBC quota in Central institutions ''frontally and in a holistic manner''.

He clarified that on April 5 he had merely referred about the constitutional amendment and made it clear that the necessary follow up action was underway and a decision would follow after the ensuing assembly elections when reporters asked him about the HRD Ministry's proposal on reservation in various institutions including Central Universities.

''I may add that a decision of the central government in regard to percentage of reservation of seats is yet to be taken and on being asked by the media, I have declined to comment precisely on the ground that the election process was underway in some States''.

Requesting the EC to drop its proceedings in the matter, the Minister said he was releasing the statement since the Commission's letter to the Cabinet Secretary had received wide attention in the media.

UNI