CM, criticise SC order on ninth Schedule

Chennai, Jan 12 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and leaders of various political parties in the state, came out against the Supreme Court's order on Ninth Schedule laws, saying it posed a threat to the continunance of 69 per cent reservation in the state.

Conceding that the Tamil Nadu Reservation Act, providing 69 per cent reservation for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and backward classes in education and jobs faced a threat in the wake of the apex court order, Mr Karunanidhi hinted that there would be a ''bloodshed'' in the state if there was any danger to reservation.

Replying to a question, whether the apex court order sounded the death knell to the reservation system, obtained after shedding tears and blood, the Dravidian stalwart said the state had an army of social justice supporters to ''shed blood'' to protect the quota system in the state.

''There is no need for any apprehension (on the quota system) as even if they ran out of tears, there is enough blood in the army of social justice supporters created by rationalist leader Periyar E V Ramasamy and late leaders C N Annadurai and K Kamarj,'' the DMK leader said.

AIADMK General Secretary and former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder leader Dr S Ramadoss, TNCC President M Krishnasamy and MDMK General Secretary Vaiko were among others who reacted sharply to the Supreme Court order.

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