PM asks protestors to call off strike

Srinagar, May 25: Denying that he has remained silent on the issue of anti-reservation agitations, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the government would seek all ''viable and credible ways'' to protect the interests of all sections of society.

Appealing to the agitating doctors and students to call off their agitation, Dr Singh said the UPA-Left Coordination Committee had worked out a detailed roadmap for reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

''That resolution (UPA-Left) is a public document,'' he said.

The Prime Minister also said it was not correct for anyone to state that he has remained silent on the month-long agitation against reservation of seats for the OBCs.

When asked whether he would hold talks with the agitating students, Dr Singh said he was ''not averse'' to meeting anyone, but made it clear that the government would stick to the decision of providing 27 per cent reservation for the OBCs since Parliament has passed the 93rd constitutional amendment and the UPA-Left was committed to the implementation of the decision.

He said since there was a lot of time left for the implementation of the reservation provisions from June 2007, solutions would be found through the committee of Vice-Chancellors and Directors of the IITs/IIMs so that the interests of all sections are protected.

UNI

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