V P Singh Calls for referendum on reservation

New Delhi, July 2 (UNI) Former Prime Minister V P Singh today called for referendum on all aspects of reservation and said the 93rd Constitutional Amendment, providing for reservation to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in higher education, should be implemented in one go.

''There should not be any delay in implementing the 93rd Amendment. Any suggestions of installments won't do.... It should be dealt in one surgery,'' Mr Singh said at the National Seminar on Social Justice to OBCs, organised by the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK).

''Had I done the Mandal Commission in installments, there would have been chaos and bloodbath,'' said Mr Singh, who implemented the Mandal Commission recommendations as Prime Minister in 1990 that led to widespread protests across the country.

''Put all issues concerning reservation on referendum.... Let the people of India decide.... For once and for all it will be decided.'' Mr Singh also called for reservation to OBCs in the private sector, and creating an All India Judicial Service as envisaged in the Constitution.

He rued that even 15 years after he implemented the Mandal Commission recommendations, Most Backward Classes (MBCs) had not found reservation in several states, and asked all the political parties to come out with their stand on MBCs if they were true to the cause of social justice.

''In the North, the Muslims are not getting the benefit of Mandal Commission recommendations,'' he said.

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