Voices of dissent over SC's stay on OBC quota

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News


New Delhi/Hyderabad/Chennai, Mar 30: The Supreme Court's stay on OBC quota till further orders sent ripples of protest among political parties across the country, with the Andhra Pradesh assembly being adjourned sine die today over the issue.

Tamil Nadu Assembly also adopted a resolution urging the UPA government to immediately convene both Houses of Parliament to discuss the implications of the order. Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, on behalf of the House, appealed to the Centre to take suitable steps to ensure that the Apex Court order did not affect the oppressed backward class people in the country.

When Speaker K R Suresh Reddy of the Andhra Pradesh assembly disallowed the adjournment motion notices by the TDP and Janata Party member K Ramulu on the issue, the TDP stalled the proceedings demanding setting aside of listed business and pressing for a discussion on the ''burning issue''.

Utter pandemonium prevailed in the House while Legislative Affairs Minister K Rosaiah moved the two Appropriation Bills.

Speaker K R Suresh Reddy put to vote the Appropriation Bills and adjourned the House sine die after all the important bills were adopted by voice vote.

Meanwhile, ruling out any confrontation with the Supreme Court, the Congress said UPA partners would collectively choose an option from several redressal mechanisms available to the Centre to deal with the situation arising from the apex court stay on 27 per cent OBC quota for students in higher educational institutes.

The options include going for a quick sample census to find out the percentage of OBC population, a Constitutional amendment or bringing in a new statutory scheme, but it is for the government to take a decision in consultation with all its coalition partners and supporting parties, AICC spokesman Abishek Singhvi told reporters.

Janata Dal (Secular) President and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda asked the UPA Government to take a pro-active stand on reservation issue and get the Supreme Court stay vacated to provide for reservation benefits for OBC students. He said reservation was the only way to bridge the chasm in the society and his party always believed that reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs and minorities in education and employment was an integral aspect of Constitutional responsibilities.

In Uttar Pradesh, BSP supremo Mayawati expressing her disappointment at the Supreme Court's decision and blamed the Congress for creating such a situation. ''BSP is of the view that Congress deliberately left the loopholes in the case so that the Apex Court stayed it,'' she told reporters here.

Janata Dal (United) President Sharad Yadav, launching a scathing attack on the judiciary for the anti-OBC quota judgement, demanded that the government should not implement the interim order.

Terming the reasons given to stay the notification as ''unfortunate, unconstitutional and absurd,'' Mr Yadav said it has not only demolished the Constitution but also judiciary.

Meanwhile, two anti-reservation petitioners namely Ashok Kumar Thakur and Shiv Khera through their counsel wrote to the Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium to advise the Centre and the government of Tamil Nadu to ensure sincere compliance of the orders of the Supreme Court dated May 31,2006 especially in respect of the strike call given by DMK and its allies for strike in the state of Tamil Nadu tomorrow.

The apex court had in its order dated May 31,2006 directed all the parties to immediately call off all agitations, strikes and protests since the issue of reservation for OBCs in centrally-run educational institutions of higher education such as IITs, IIMs and AIIMS is under consideration of the court.

The ruling DMK and its allies called for a 12-hour bandh tomorrow to express Tamil Nadu's disappointment over the order. A resolution to this effect was adopted at an emergency meeting called by DMK-led DPA and chaired by Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi.

The state government declared a holiday tomorrow under the Negotiable Instruments Act in view of the bandh. All state government offices, public undertakings, including State Transport Corporations and other industrial establishments would have a public holiday.

The Andhra Pradesh Backward Classes Welfare Association also gave a state-wide bandh call on April 4 in protest against the Supreme Court's stay order.

Stating as unfortunate the Apex's Court order, the Association threatened to stall admissions to all Central institutions until they implemented OBC reservation.

The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) held demonstrations in several parts of the country to protest the Supreme Court order.

The party staged black flag demonstrations in Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry protesting the Supreme Court decision. The agitators also wore black shirts and badges during the demonstration.

UNI

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