HRD Ministry "dumped" AIADMK's guidance on OBC quota draft: Jaya

Chennai, Mar 31 (UNI) Blaming the Centre's ''callousness'' for the setback in provision of 27 per cent quota for OBCs, AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa today claimed that the Union Human Resources Development (HRD) Ministry sought her party's guidance in drafting the quota Bill but later discarded it due to political reasons.

Stating that the present situation had forced her to disclose certain incidents that had occurred in the past, she said the AIADMK took part in an all-party meeting convened by HRD Minister Arjun Singh in 2005 to discuss the Supreme Court's ruling in the 'Inamdar case.' The party put forth its views in writing, clearly elucidating the legal implications in quota issue.

Following this, Mr Singh contacted the AIADMK and sought further guidance from the party on the issue, she claimed in a statement here.

Though the DMK was part of the Union Government, the Minister felt that the Tamil Nadu Reservation Act brought in by her previous regime in 1993, was exemplary and sought the guidance off the record, she added.

Ms Jayalalithaa said she immediately appointed a group of lawyers which held several round of talks and offered necessary guidance to the Minister and his department officials.

The AIADMK even designed a draft bill taking into consideration the welfare of Backward Classes, following a request from the HRD Ministry in this regard. After getting all necessary details, the Centre subsequently did not show any interest and remained silent for a few months.

Meanwhile, there was a change of government in Tamil Nadu and the Centre, without taking the AIADMK's suggestions into consideration, hastily enacted a legislation keeping in view of the Assembly elections in Punjab and Uttarakhand, the AIADMK supremo charged.

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