ALVM demands Ordinance on OBC reservation

Bhubaneswar, Mar 31 (UNI) The Orissa unit of Ambedkar Lohia Vichar Manch (ALVM) today urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to promulgate an ordinance to implement the 27 per cent reservation for the students of backward communities in IITs and IIMs.

In a memorandum to the Prime Minister, ALVM President Sangram Mallick and Secretary Rabi Behera also demanded that a special session of Parliament be convened to discuss the issue in view of the apex court staying the Centre's decision to reserve 27 per cent reservation for the backward communities in the Central educational institutions.

They also urged the Prime Minister to convene an all-party meeting to arrive at a consensus on the issue and direct all the state governments to make provision for reservation of the backward communities in their respective state in the professional and non professional institutions from 2007-2008 session.

Hundreds of ALVM activists carrying placards and shouting slogans staged a protest demonstration before the Assembly expressing anguish over the apex court judgment.

Later a six-member delegation, comprising ALVM President, Secretary and BJD Parliamentary member Mohan Jena, submitted a memorandum to the Governor addressed to the Prime Minister stating that the Supreme Court decision has come as a ''blow'' to the communities who have been exploited.

The stay of the Centre's decision, the memorandum said, was not only against the provisions of the Constitution but also contradicted the full bench decision on the Mandal Commission in 1993 and challenged the commitment of the Central government.

UNI