Ramadoss alleges corporates behind anti-reservation stir

Bangalore, May 26 (UNI) Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder-leader S Ramadoss today alleged that some corporates were behind the agitation launched by students against the 27 per cent reservation for the Other Backward Classes in higher educational institutions.

Dr Ramadoss, who was here as part of his campaign to spread the message of social justice to the OBCs throughout the country, however, did not name any corporate house.

Terming the stir as ''uncalled for'', he alleged it was engineered by some vested interests. Reservation was a national policy and the OBCs constituted more than 60 per cent of the total population. In fact, the Kaka Kalelkar Committee and the Mandal Commission had recommended reservation for them after an in-depth study, he added.

Dr Ramadoss appealed to the students not to take law into their hands and dictate policies to the government. Instead, they could come to the negotiating table and discuss the issue threadbare, he added.

Taking a dig at the media, he said hype had been created through a partisan approach.

It may be recalled that the PMK, a constituent of the UPA government at the Centre, yesterday organised demonstrations in all district headquarters in Tamil Nadu in support of the reservation.

Former Member of Parliament Ram Avdesh Singh from Bihar, who was also present, said a counter stir would be started throughout the country if the agitating students did not stop their protests immediately.

UNI SR GD AK HT1440