Chandrashekhar calls for consensus on reservation

New Delhi, Apr 28 : Former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar has called for a consensus among all sections of society before bringing a legislation on reservation in educational institutions.

In an editorial in 'Young Indian' weekly titled 'Reservation Rigmorale', he said a consensus was necessary over the issue among all sections of the society for striking a balance between social justice and maintaining standards of excellence was necessary.

Taking note of the announcement by Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh that the government would introduce reservation for Other Backward Classes in the elite technical and educational institutions, he said the proposal had evoked a bitter controversy.

He expressed fear that it would evoke similar situation as has occurred during Mandal Commission in 1990 when Mr V P Singh was the Prime Minister.

''The trouble with rules on such sensitive issues is that they make pronouncements seemingly with good intentions which tend to tear the social fabric. Except a small section, there is a near unanimity to bring the sections of society, which for historical reasons have socially and educationally left behind, at par.'' ''IITs, business schools and other institutions argued they were centres of excellence and had to compete internationally and hence could not lower their standards. Chairman of Wipro Azim Premji and Rajat Gupta, chairman of the Indian School of Business represent that view. A section of students also voiced their dissent and opposition. Supporters of reservation and quota will defintely stand up against them, It is but natural,'' he added.

Mr Chandrashekhar said statistics collected by the Rajendra Sachar Committee for a study on the status of Muslims in the Society reportedly showed their ''pitiable'' condition in various fields.

BSP supremo Mayawati had given another dimension to the controversy by demanding reservation for poorer sections of the Upper castes.

While observing that equality of all sections of the society had been an important goal of the freedom struggle, he said it was however, unfortunate that instead of giving priority to issues like education, health and employment, efforts were made to exploit emotive issues.

UNI

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