Reservation row: PHDCCI concerned over police brutality

Bhopal, May 17 (UNI) PHDCCI today expressed concern over inappropriate use of force by police personnel on agitating medical students in Delhi and Mumbai.

''Is the use of 'lathis', batons and water cannon on India's best students justified when they are just demonstrating peacefully against the Centre's drive to hike OBC quotas? Such actions are reminiscent of the British Raj. It is shocking that even though half the protesters in Mumbai were girls, there were no women constables on the scene,'' a PHDCCI release said here.

PHDCCI believes all reservation is inefficient.

''Looking at the status of some backward groups, affirmative action is indeed required. However, any affirmative action without a responsible approach is loaded with long-term repercussion. The action must take into account school education and then higher and professional education,'' it added.

PHDCCI alleged that reservation has become even more detrimental for those not admitted on comparative merit in professional education.

''We are, in a sense programming them for failure. It would be more laudable to spend the same in bringing them up to competitive merit by focussing on education during the school years.

Affirmative action till graduation is okay but not at PG and research level.'' The issue at heart is that only 6-7 per cent students in the 18-23 age-group have access to higher education, the release added.

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