Reservation proposal still in pipeline:Cong

New Delhi, Apr 12 (UNI) The Congress today denied the suggestion that the Union Cabinet Secretary has returned the proposal of the HRD Ministry for providing 27 per cent reservation to OBCs in educational institutions, saying "it is in the pipeline." "We are speculating much in advance," Congress Spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said replying to a question at his press briefing here.

"We have not reached the stage of a Cabinet decision on the matter", he clarified.

Denying the suggestion that the proposal for reservationn to OBC in educational institutions is illegal, the Congress Spokesman pointed out that a Constitution Amendment Bill to this effect had been passed unanimously by Parliament by more than two thirds majority. "This is rare." Several inter-ministerial proposals are moved, but it could not be said that it had been returned to Ministry from where it emanated, Mr Singhvi said,adding a decision on the proposal had not been taken by the Government or by the Cabinet.

Asked about Mr Advani's comment that he was opposed to the move to free some terrorists in return for the safe passage of Indian passengers in the hijacked Indian Airlines plane during the NDA regime, Mr Singhvi wondered why Mr Advani did not resign from the Government or issued a statement against it if he felt so. This remark was just to mislead the people, he added.

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