Quota issue: Govt considering increasing seats

New Delhi, May 16 (UNI) The government is considering increasing the number of seats while providing reservation to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in institutions of higher education, Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh informed the Lok Sabha today.

''This is one of the suggestions the government is considering.... As soon as the consultations are over, we will bring a comprehensive roadmap before the House,'' Mr Singh said during Question Hour.

He recalled that the Lok Sabha unanimously passed the 93rd Amendment in December 2005 thereby giving commitment to SCs/STs and OBCs for reservation in private and unaided institutions.

''That commitment, later assented to by the President in January 2006 is irrevocable and the government and Parliament is committed to that,'' he said, and added that a proposal to implement the commitment in a manner consistent with the other provisions of law was under consideration.

Referring to the students protest against reservation, he said the government was not unmindful of the fact that a certain section of students think that something was being taken away from them.

''I do not approve of the police action against the agitating students.... The students have the right to peaceful agitation.'' Intervening, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, on behalf of the House, appealed to the students to consider withdrawing their agitation.

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