Karunanidhi insists on immediate implementation of OBC quotas

New Delhi, Aug 6 (UNI) DMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, ''insisting'' that quotas for OBCs in all government institutes of higher learning be ''immediately'' implemented without any ''dilution.'' Drawing attention to the recent resolution passed unanimously by the state assembly, the letter, sent on Friday, urged the Dr Singh to ''respect and respond to the people's mandate by immediately extending reservations to OBCs at all levels and all institutions under the government of India without any dilution,'' party sources said.

Mr Karunanidhi also called on the Prime Minister not to allow the ''unjust demand of the anti-reservationists, who form 5 to 10 per cent of the population of India, and have suggested phased implementation of reservation for OBCs, application of the creamy layer concept and increase in seats for the general category.

''I am of the firm opinion that if these demands are accepted, it will amount to prefentially empowering the empowered, at the cost of oppressing the oppressed,'' he wrote in the letter, noting it was ''strange'' that the creamy layer concept was not applied to the unreserved category till date..., and terming the demands ''unconstitutional and unethical''.

''Delayed social justice is denied human rights for OBCs,'' the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister observed.

UNI SN/VD RS2124