Pondy Admn taking steps to provide quota to minorities

Puducherry, Apr 22 (UNI) The Puducherry administration is taking steps to provide reservation to the minorities in the Union Territory, Chief Minister N Rangasamy told the Legislative Assembly today.

Replying to a calling attention motion tabled by several members, including Leader of the Opposition A M H Nazeem on the issue, Welfare Minister M Kandasamy said there was only 50 per cent reservation in the Union Territory compared to 69 per cent in Tamil Nadu of which 16 per cent was for the SC, 13 per cent for BC, 20 per cent for MBC and one per cent for the ST.

A meeting of all the members chaired by the Chief Minister would be convened and a decision would be taken on it, he added.

With persistant demands from the members that caste-wise enumeration be taken and reservation provided on the basis of population, Mr Rangasamy intervened and said the matter was referred to the Backward Classes Commission.

Mr Kandasamy again rose to say that it was yet to be decided from which quota the minority reservation be implemented. He said it would be implemented after obtaining a public opinion and getting the recommendations of the BC Commission.

The statement of Mr Kandasamy that no Christian organisations had given representation to him for reservation and only Muslims had approached him drew widespreaded protest in the House.

With Opposition members reacting sharply, uprorious scenes prevailed in the House.

Intervening, the Chief Minister categorically stated that the minority reservation would soon be implemented here and it would be given as per the recommendations of the BC Commission.

UNI PAB ROY KD AS1403