All options open on OBC quota: PM

New Delhi, Apr 5 (UNI) Refusing to specify whether there would be a caste-based census, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the government would try to evolve a broad-based political consensus on the issue of OBC quota for students, keeping all options open.

''I am not saying yes or no. We will take all options into account,'' Dr Singh told reporters who wanted to know whether the government was considering a census on the basis of caste.

He said the government had not applied its mind yet on the Supreme Court's order staying the 27 per cent OBC quota for admission in central educational institutions.

The Prime Minister was talking to reporters at Rashtrapati Bhavan after the Padma Awards fuction.

''We are going to consult all political parties'' for which no date had been fixed so far as he was busy with the 14th Summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

The apex court had stayed the implementation of the OBC quota as reservation was sought to be provided on a old 1931 census.

Asked about the success of the SAARC summit, he said the full potential of the regional grouping of eight nations could not be realised due to various reasons.

''We are seeing a new trend'' which was encouraging, he said.

Replying to a query on the Defence Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan to be held in Islamabad tomorrow to discuss the Siachen and Sir Creek issues, he said one ''ought to be hopeful'' and make use of the opportunities for working together and resolving differences.

Asked about today's Allahabad High Court judgement holding that Muslims in Uttar Pradesh could not be treated as minorities in view of their sizeable population, the Prime Minister said he had not seen the verdict.

UNI