Roorkee IITians protest OBC quota

Hardwar, Apr 18 (UNI) Students of IIT Roorkee took out a protest march against the Union Human Resource Ministry's proposal of reservation for OBC in the institutes of excellence such as IITs, IIMs and Central universities.

The protest march, supported by the faculty members, was held under the banner of the Students' Affairs Council (SAC) of the IIT.

Hundreds of OBC students of the institute also took part in the protest march.

President of SAC Ashok Kumar said the proposal of quota for OBC students was a populist measure which was being supported by political parties to consolidate their vote bank. It will not only bring down standards of higher education and research, but will also lead to brain drain.

Mr Kumar said instead of reserving seats for OBC students in institutes of higher learning, the government should provide them financial assistance and other facilities to enable them to take admission in these institutions on the basis of merit.

He also informed that a memorandum against reservation, signed by 2,500 students of the institute, was being sent to the President, the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Election Commission.

Director of IIT, Prof Prem Vrat told UNI the final decision on the issue would be taken after the meeting of the IIT Council headed by the Union HRD Minister. ''I have always been of the opinion that the quality of education in the institutes of excellence should not be allowed to be eroded,'' the director said.

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