Mulayam backs UPA govt on OBC reservation issue

Lucknow, Apr 10: Samajwadi Party supremo and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today supported the UPA government's proposed move to provide 27 per cent reservation to the Other Backward Castes (OBC) in centrally-funded institutions of higher education, including IITs.

Addressing the meeting of vice-chancellors of state universities here, Mr Yadav said orginally this formula was introduced by Samajwadi Party and now its acceptance by UPA government, actually meant supporting the SP's agenda.

He said the Mandal Commission report also recommended such a formula and if the centre goes for the same then Samajwadi Party will fully support it.

Referring to his reservations with the Congress led government at the centre over different matters, the UP CM maintained that there might be some differences over other issues but on the OBC reservation his party will support the centre.

The HRD minister Arjun Singh, had recently, announced plans for 27 per cent reservation to OBCs in centrally funded higher education institutions.

UNI