Pro-quota students raise slogans against Bajaj

Mumbai, June 10 : Pro-reservation students today shouted slogans against industrialist Rahul Bajaj at a function where he received the 'Marathwada Mitra' award, instituted by the Marathwada Lok Vikas Manch, here this evening.

The students were protesting Mr Bajaj's anti-reservation views.

A couple of agitating boys and girls were later taken away by the police from the scene.

Incidentally, last month when Tata group Chairman Ratan Tata was being presented the 'Maharashtra Bhushan' award, some pro-reservation students had shouted slogans against his opposition to the Centre's quota policy in private educational institutions.

Earlier, Mr Bajaj had said that reservation is UPA Government's ''worst move.'' Mr Bajaj is the independent candidate for the June 15 byelection to Rajya Sabha for the seat falling vacant due to the death of senior BJP leader Pramod Mahajan. He is being supported by Shiv Sena-BJP and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for the bypoll.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who was scheduled to be the chief guest at today's award ceremony being held at Ravindra Natya Mandir, Prabha Devi, Central Mumbai, stayed away from the event citing 'prior committments.'' However, sources said it was for political reasons that Mr Deshmukh did not attend the award function.

Mr Deshmukh's actor-son Riteish Deshmukh was one of the recepients of the 'Marathwada Gaurav' award at the event.

UNI