Athavale justifies police action against anti-reservation students

Mumbai, May 14 (UNI) Describing the ongoing agitation by medical students and resident doctors as ''illegal'' and against the constitutional provisions of reservations to backward classes, Republican Party of India (RPI) leader Ramdas Athavale today justified yesterday's police action against the medical students.

In a statement here today, Mr Athavale said the students were forcibly trying to enter the Raj Bhavan, Governor's bungalow, yesterday.

He said if the upper caste student-doctors were resorting to illegal protest instead of serving the ill and needy, those belonging to adivasi and backward castes should be ready to serve the medical profession throughout day and night.

Mr Athavale who is also a Lok Sabha member, said his party has organised a pro-reservation rally at Azad Maidan tomorrow afternoon.

Incidentally, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has also organised its protest march tomorrow at the same venue.

Meanwhile, state Congress spokesperson Hussain Dalwai said reservations for backward classes was a constitutional provision.

The controversy was ''unneccessary'', he added.

''The government should not neglect the poor among the upper castes and provide scholarships or reservations, if required.'' He said if students escalate the anti-reservation agitation, the backward class students would also take to the streets, which will result in unneccessary confrontation. ''The issue should be settled amicably,'' he added.

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