PMK wants ordinance on quota

Chennai, May 22 : Asserting that there should not be any dilution in providing 27 per cent reservation to OBCs in institutions of higher education, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) today said it was not averse to increasing the number of seats, but wanted the Centre to promulgate an ordinance on reservation.

PMK Founder Leader S Ramadoss told reporters here that an ordinance was necessary as it would help OBC students enjoy the benefits of reservation from this academic year itself.

The ordinance could later be replaced with a bill which can be passed during the Monsoon session of Parliament. Dr Ramadoss said he would take up the issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and AICC President Sonia Gandhi during the meeting of UPA leaders and its constituents at New Delhi tomorrow.

Dr Ramadoss said he also met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi today and stressed the need for providing 27 per cent reservation to OBCs.

Stating that those opposing reservation were in fact opposing and disrespecting the Constitution, he said the Centre now was only implementing the second recommendation (reservation in higher educational institutions) of the Mandal Commission which had submitted its report 26 years ago.

He had been garnering support from party leaders of various states and the response was very positive.

''No political party is opposing it. Even the BJP is not against it,'' he added.

Referring to student agitations against reservation, Dr Ramadoss said the government should educate them on the rationale of reservation and the Constitutional commitment of the government to social and educational advancement of the backward classes.

UNI