IITians write to Kapil Sibal over reservations

Kanpur, June 8 (UNI) The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K) students opposed to the quota proposal -- have written to Union Science, Technology and Ocean Development Minister Kapil Sibal urging him to review the outcome of reservations during the last 50 years.

Meanwhile, the 'chain hunger-strike' by IIT-K students under the banner of Forum of Indians against Reservation (FIR) entered the 12th day to protest the 27 per cent reservations for OBCs in institutions higher of education.

Talking to newspersons here, FIR convenor Rahul Gupta said they tried to meet Mr Sibal on the occasion of 38th convocation on June 5, but were not allowed.

''A letter has been sent to Mr Sibal to review the entire reservation policy and its outcome during the last 50 yrs,'' Mr Gupta.

He said in case the quota policy had benefitted the SCs, STs and Backward Class, the government is free to implement the recent decision.

The FIR office-bearer claimed a large number of posts under SC/ST quota had remained vacant.

He alleged that politically motivated decisions of the government could neither help the political parties, nor unemployed youth from the reserved quota.

Mr Gupta said FIR would shortly write to Moily Committee on this issue. ''The committee will be requested to direct the government to assess the achievements before recommending its decisions.'' Meanwhile, a meeting of students from across the country would be meeting at Bangalore on June 15 and 16 to chalk out future strategy on reservations.

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