Govt moots fresh reservation formula to satisfy all

New Delhi, May 15 (UNI) The government today promised a higher education reservation 'mechanism' to satisfy all concerned-- hinting at a possible dilution of Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh's controversial plan as the 20-day-old agitation against it intensified.

''We will ensure a mechanism in which it would be possible to ensure the interest of all sections of society,'' Cabinet spokesmen told mediapersons, a day after Singh had rejected suggestions for reviewing the quota proposals.

The announcement by Defence Minister Pranab Kumar Mukherjee and Finance Minister P Chidambaram came after an hour-long meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs at which Mr Singh too was present.

Mr Mukherjee appealed to the agitators to calm down, saying there was no intention to harm the interest of anybody. ''After all, those who are agitating are also our children,'' he added.

The Defence Minister said the government will shortly come out with an arrangement, the full details of which were being worked out.

Replying to a question, he said at the moment, it was not possible to give any time-frame for bringing in the fresh proposals on reservation. ''It can be before the end of the current session of Parliament or after.'' He said the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs reviewed the whole situation on the reservation issue, including the ongoing agitation by students and doctors.

After taking stock of the situation, it was decided that something should be done to ensure that no section of the society felt disadvantaged.

The Human Resource Development Minister had yesterday refused to modify his stand on the quota and said it was upto Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to decide when to bring the matter to the Cabinet.

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