Agitating students seek appointment with PM

New Delhi, May 9: Students protesting the proposal to increase OBC reservation in higher educational institutions today sought an appointment with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to press for their roll-back demand.

''We have formally submitted the request to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). We want to present a memorandum to Dr Singh explaining our demands,'' said Adityaraj Kaul of the United Students'.

He said the students want to present their stand on the issue to the Prime Minister.

They have already presented a 21-point memorandum to President A P J Abdul Kalam on May 4.

The students are waiting for the election code-of-conduct to lift to seek a response from Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh before taking a stand on their future agitation strategy.

''We want a concrete reply from Mr Arjun Singh. It is just a matter of a few days now. If we don't get a response soon, we will have to go on the agitation path once again,'' AIIMS Students' Union spokesperson Sasmit Sarangi told UNI.

He said they are holding meetings with several organisations to formulate the future course of action.

Students from Delhi's five medical colleges, the Delhi University and other institutions have been holding protests since April 27, opposing the government's proposal.

Meanwhile, the Pro-Reservation Front, the Indian Justice Party, the All India Christian Council, All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations and several other organisations today formed the 'Arakshan Samarthak Morcha (Pro reservation Front)'.

Members of the Medico's Forum For Equal Opportunities held a demonstration against the ''propaganda of anti-reservationists'' here at Jantar Mantar.

UNI

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