OBC quota bill in Monsoon Session, says PM

Chennai, May 31 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre would introduce an appropriate bill in the forthcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament to provide 27 per cent reservation to OBCs in higher educational institutions.

Replying to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi's letter on reservation for OBCs in educational institutions, Dr Singh assured his government was committed to providing reservation.

''I fully appreciate your sentiments and wish to assure you that my government is committed to providing reservation for OBCs in educational institutions,'' he said in his reply, a copy of which was made available to the media.

The Prime Minister said the matter was discussed in detail by the UPA Coordination Committee. As decided in the meeting ''an appropriate bill will be brought in Parliament in the forthcoming Monsoon Session,'' he said.

As also decided in the coordination committee meeting, Dr Singh said ''we are in the process of constituting oversight committee as well as committees for different categories of educational institutions to examine the requirement of additional infrastructure, including teachers, and suggest a road-map for expansion of capacities in institutes of higher learning.

''I have urged all concerned to take necessary steps as expeditiously as possible to fulfill our common commitment to the OBCs,'' Dr Singh said.

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