Strike on, CPM for quota, no to creamy layer

New Delhi, May 22 (UNI) Striking doctors and students continued with their agitation on reservation for OBCs in institutions of higher learning all over the country even as anti and pro-quota rallies and programmes took place in the capital while Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today met CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat on the issue.

CPI(M) sources said Mr Karat is understood to have briefed the Prime Minister on his party's view on the contentious issue.

Dr Singh had met CPI Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Sudhakar Reddy on Saturday to discuss the issue.

Meanwhile, The CPI(M) today said it had apprised the Prime Minister of its view that the Left stood for quotas for the OBCs, but the benefits should not go to the creamy layer.

CPI(M) senior leader and Party Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha Rup Chand Pal, while talking to UNI, said reservation must not affect the prospects of other sections of society and that the UPA government was bound to implement the related constitutional amendment passed unanimously by Parliament.

But CPI National Secretary Shamim Faizi said his party had yet to interact with the PM.

Two members of the Knowledge Commission--Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Andrea Beteille-- resigned in the face of the Government expressing its resolve not to roll back the quota decision, though assuring the protestors of devising a mechanism to satisfy those to be affected by the move.

Mr Beteille and Mr Mehta, along with xxx eds pick up from line one, para three of DI 48 AGITATION-ROUNDUP-RESERVATION.

UNI TEAM PA DB2048