Arjun attacks 'mind set' of those opposing OBC

New Delhi, May 18: Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh, whose attempt to introduce 27 per cent OBC quota in elite institutions has been thwarted by the Supreme Court, today said he felt baffled by the opposition to his move which harmed no one but benefitted the disadvantaged.

He made a scathing attack on the ''mind set'' of the society in which people ''cannot think beyond their own rights.'' Mr Singh said the approach of the Government to introduce 27 per cent quota in elite educational institution was '' unique and level-headed, as it had been decided to expand the capacity of the institutions to accommodate the weaker section without cutting on the existing share of the general candidate.

''It was in a way an attempt to make the whole higher education system inclusive,'' he stressed.

Mr Singh was addressing the valedictory session of the two-day international conference on 'Empowerment of SCs, STs and Minorities through Elementary Education' convened by Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha Charanjit Singh Atwal in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

He said it was not enough to just applaud the sense of fair play and justice, but all should in their individual capacity see to it that it really happens.

He sought to caution that in a democracy, individual rights were safe so long as they did not harm others.

The Minister expressed the hope that the outcome of the conference would help in bringing a change in the ''mind set'' of the society.

UNI

Related Stories

Larger bench for OBC reservation case: SC
Voices of dissent over SC's stay on OBC reservation
BHU students boycott classes over OBC reservation
OBC reservation move ''politically motivated'': BJP
Implementing OBC reservation in one go opposed
Reservation : OBC MPs to press Govt on decision
>