Pro-reservation Mahapanchayat gives ultimatum to Govt

New Delhi, May 22 (UNI) Scores of pro-reservation activists, who converged from several states, held a Mahapanchayat here today, and gave an 'ultimatum' to the government to implement within three months the 27 per cent quota for OBCs in higher educational institutions or else they will take to streets.

In an attempt to counter the growing anti-reservation agitation, the pro-quota activists, waving placards reading ''Promote Education'', ''Give Space to Talent'', held deliberations on the issue at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium.

Mahapanchayat convenor former UP Minister Ashok Yadav said the government must implement within three months the OBC reservation proposal but if it failed to do so, lakhs of people across the country will hit the streets.

''The people will spill out into streets to fight for their right and nothing can stop us,'' he added.

Mr Yadav said, ''Reservation is our constitutional right and no government can stop us from getting it''.

Coming down heavily on the anti-reservation agitation of the medical students and doctors, he said they are a minority and the government has to heed to OBCs, who have a sizeable population.

''As many as 125 MPs belong to OBCs can decide who will be the Prime Minister of the country,'' he added.

OBC, SC/STs, farmers and students from several universities, including Allahabad, Delhi, Patna and the Jawaharlal Nehru University attended the Mahapanchayat 'Strength Begets Representation'.

Mr Yadav praised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for appointing a four-member Group of Ministers (GoM), headed by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee on the contentious issue.

However, he was critical of the Knowledge Commission and its chief Sam Pitroda and its members, Congress leader Janardan Dwivedi for opposing OBC reservation.

''They are trying to scuttle the reservation move,'' he said, demanding their expulsion.

''We will expose such leaders who are against reservation," he added ''So far we were silent on the issue. Now we won't remain silent anymore. This is just a trailer of what we are capable of doing if the government fails to implement the reservation," Mr Yadav said.

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