DPA's bandh on reservation issue an eye-wash: Jaya

Chennai, Mar 30 (UNI) AIADMK General-Secretary J Jayalalithaa today alleged that the 12-hour bandh called by the ruling DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) tomorrow on the reservation issue was an eye-wash, though clarifying that the party supported the quota.

She expressed shock over the Supreme Court's interim order, staying 27 per cent reservation for the OBCs in higher educational institutions.

Ms Jayalalithaa, in a statement here, charged that after failing to handle the issue properly, the bandh would only be a farce and laughing stock.

Responding to the DMK's plea to support the bandh, she said, after announcing the bandh to the media, the DMK sent a letter to the AIADMK party headquarters late last night, which was not proper.

If Mr Karunanidhi really wanted the support of all political parties, he could have convened an all-party meeting, after giving sufficient time, she pointed out.

''It would have been proper if the DMK had convened an all-party meeting and obtained their views before calling for strike.

Instead, the party, hurriedly held a meeting with its allies and decided to observe the bandh,'' Ms Jayalalitha said.

She said the Congress -ed UPA government at the Centre, its constituents like the DMK, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and the Left parties, which supported the Government from outside, should own responsibility for the apex Court's stay.

''The Centre, right from the beginning, failed to properly approach the reservation issue and did not effectively argue the case, when the matter came up before the apex court. ''The AIADMK condemns the Centre for messing up the issue,'' she said.

UNI