'Separate commission should deal with OBC matters'

Ranchi, Apr 10: Terming the Supreme Court's decision to stay reservation for OBCs in higher educational institutes as 'unfortunate', CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and MP Brinda Karat today said such matters should be dealt by a separate commission comprising non-judicial members. Talking to reporters here Ms Karat said an SC bench of seven judges allows OBC quota in government jobs while an earlier bench, comprising two judges, feels provision of OBC quota in educational institutions was not right.

Referring to a recent verdict of Allahabad High Court, Ms Karat said a bench decides that Muslims were not part of minority community and the very next day the order was stayed.

The CPI(M) leader said these issues should be dealt by a separate judicial commission on the recommendation of Parliament's standing committee, adding non judges should also be made members of that committee.

To a query on naxal problem, Ms Karat said the union government should formulate a concrete policy in co-ordination with the state governments.

''The killing of Jamshedpur JMM MP Sunil Mahto by the ultras on March 4 reflected their dare devil acts,'' she said.

Earlier, criticising the BJP for its controversial CD, Ms Karat said releasing it just before the UP assembly election was an attempt to divide people on communal lines.

UNI