Mahila Cong chief denies she opposed OBC reservation

New Delhi, May 30 (UNI) Denying that she had opposed reservation for OBCs in institutions of higher education, All India Mahila Congress President Rita Bahuguna Joshi today said she had been ''grossly misquoted'' on the issue.

''Some journalists who met me informally at a press meet in Sukurtal (Muzaffarnagar) have grossly misquoted me on the issue,'' she said in a statement issued here.

However, she admitted to having said that the interests of the weaker sections would be best served if reservation was given on an economic basis so that its benefits percolated down to those who needed it most, but added these were her ''personal views.'' She said answering a question on upper caste poor, she had stated that ''they too have a right to demand reservation as part of social justice.'' Ms Joshi clarified that while supporting reservation for OBCs, she had said the idea was to fulfil the constitutional responsibility of providing social justice to the economically and socially weaker sections of society.

She noted that she had also stated that the general category students need not worry as the present formula under consideration of the Centre did not harm their interests at all, as the number of seats in the existing institutions would be increased and new institutes would also be set up.

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