Ramadoss hits at FM for quota postponement

Chennai, Sept 2: PMK founder-leader Dr S Ramadoss today indirectly blamed Congress leader and Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram for placing hurdles in the implementation of 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in higher educational institutions at one go.

Addressing a press meet here he said during the UPA Coordination Committee meeting at the Prime Minister's residence on May 23, it was decided to implement reservation at one go from next year.

It was also decided to bring in legislation in the Monsoon session of Parliament. DMK leader and Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran too pressed for promulgation of an Ordinance to this effect.

'In the meantime I don't know what happened. I don't know why it got staggered, despite passing resolutions in the Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry Assemblies', Dr Ramadoss added.

Asked which Congress Minister from Tamil Nadu was being an obstacle, he parried the question. Asked if it was Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar or Mr Chidambaram, he said 'Mr Aiyar is a very good person'.

'You better ask this question to Mr Chidambaram', was his terse reply, when asked whether the Union Finance Minister was the person.

On Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh's remarks that 27 per cent quota could be implemented only in phases, Dr Ramadoss said he (Mr Singh) was pushed to such a situation to say like that.

UNI