TN CM lauds SC's poser on OBC reservation in education

Chennai, Aug 22 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, a champion of reservation for the backward classes, today said the Supreme Court's poser as what was wrong in providing 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in educational institutions gave him immense satisfaction.

Answering a set of questions, he said he was happy that apex court judge Justice R V Raveendran had said there was nothing wrong in the Central Legislation, providing 27 per cent reservation for OBCs, when they constituted at least 52 per cent of the population in the country.

''I am happy that the judge had also observed that ''traditionally 20 to 30 per cent population had enjoyed all the benefits and now let the 70 to 80 per cent of the population have a piece of cake.

What is wrong in it,'' Mr Karunanidhi said, adding this gave him immense satisfaction.

On the controversy over India's ambassador to the US, Ronen Sen's reported remarks, describing the MPs as ''headless chicken'', Mr Karunanidhi, whose DMK, is a constituent of the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre, said the remarks were totally unwarranted.

However, when the envoy tendered an ''unqualified apology'', those concerned should try to put an end to the controversy. ''It is not fair to blow the issue out of proportion,'' the DMK leader added.

UNI