More seats is an option to provide OBC quota

New Delhi, May 17: Acknowledging that raising the number of seats in premier institutions such as IITs and IIMs is an option before the government to protect the interest of all sections, Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh today assured the Lok Sabha that there is no question of going back on the issue of OBC quota, but did not specify the percentage and the time-frame.

''Our commitment is there. We are not going back. At the same time, we will try to take along the agitating medical students who have a right to express their dissenting voice,'' Mr Arjun Singh said while replying to a debate on a calling attention motion moved by Mr Santosh Gangwar (BJP) and others.

Without clarifying whether reservation would be provided for OBC students for the 2006-07 academic year, the Minister said there was no delay on the part of the government in announcing its new quota policy.

The government was unable to go ahead on the issue due to the model code of conduct which was in force during the assembly elections in five states, he said.

At the same time, the Minister observed it was an entirely different matter whether the proposed reservation fell within the purview of the code as Parliament had unanimously amended the Constitution.

Even as the BJP and other parties expressed the unanimous view that there was need for reservation, the Minister appealed to the members, who expressed apprehensions on some aspects, not to be under any illusion on the subject.

He said the government would ''like to take everyone along and try to protect the interests of all the affected parties. We have shown our resolve and we will continue to do it.''

Pointing out that the government could not take a decision on such matters ''within 24 hours'', Mr Arjun Singh clarified that ''as far as the Constitutional amendment regarding reservations passed by this House (is concerned), we are not going back. If there is some tension simmering in society, we will try to sort out.'' Rejecting the allegation that UPA Ministers were speaking in different voices on the issue, he said, ''We don't speak in different voices. There are no differences.'' Acknowledging that medical students had a right to express their dissent and go on agitation, the Minister said the government was against any use of force to suppress their voice.

Without taking any names, he said an attempt was being made to create an illusion and spread canards on the issue to create tension.

Earlier, in a statement, he said the Constitution (93rd Amendment) Act, 2005 came into force on January 20, 2006. By inserting a new clause (5) in Article 15 of the Constitution, this amendment had enabled the state to make special provisions by law for the advancement of the SCs, the STs and any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens also known as the OBCs in matters of their admission to all educational institutions, including aided or unaided private educational institutions, except minority educational institutions established under Article 30 (1) of the Constitution.

Mr Arjun Singh said, "Soon after the Act came into force on January 24,2006, Chief Ministers of States were asked to take necessary steps for formulating appropriate laws to implement OBC quota in admissions. Earlier, BJP MP Santosh Gangwar said his party always supported to the reservation and its implementation for other backward castes(OBC).But, it would render the competition for IIM even more tougher as already only one student out of 60 examinees could get admission in these higher management institutions.

BJP's Deputy leader in House,Mr Vijay Kumar Malhotra also concured others that no one could oppose the implementation the constitutional amendment for according reservation to the OBCs but manner and timing of taking it up by Mr Arjun Singh was 'suspect'.

The HRD Minister deliberately chose to announce the implementaiton of OBC reservation just five days before the annoucement of polls to five state assemblies by Election Commission." This was intended to takepolitivcal benefit", he said adding that the "ongoing police repression and lathi-charge on agitating doctors is uncalled for and a blur on the democratic set-up pof the country... police excesses on doctors as exhibited on the electronic media is a matter of shame".

Mr Malhotra raised several queries like whether there were differences among the government over the implementation of quota as Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal had opposed it. He also wanted to know why the quota parametres were not observed in the Knowldge Commission appointed by the Prime Minister. And why Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi have been slient on the issue allthrough, Mr Malhotra questioned.

On the other hand, CPI(M) MP Ajoy Chakraborty supported the reservation for OBC, pointing out the government should take remedial steps to restore the collapsed medical services in the country.

DMK's MP A. Krishnaswamy aksed the HRD Minister to make the implementation of the OBC quota a time-bound affairs. The PMK mmebers also supported the OBC quota and it want that it should be extended to private sector also.

Mr Devendra Prasad Yadav (RJD) and Mr Ram Gopal Yadav asked the government to take criminal actions against those agiating doctors who were responsible for bringing to a standstill the medical services in the government-run hospitals.

Mr Ram Dass Athawale(Independent) asked the government to expose to the public how RSS had been acting from behind in the onging agitation by the doctors and medical students.

Mr Mohan Jana of BJD also supported the OBC quota in higher education but asked the government to desist from repressive measures to control the ongoing agitation.

UNI

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