NEW DELHI, 25 May 2006 — A legislation to provide 27 percent reservation for other backward castes (OBCs) in educational institutions will be brought before Parliament in the monsoon session. This was decided at the united Progressive Alliance (UPA)-Left coordination committee meeting held here late Tuesday.
The meeting was held at the residence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and attended by top leaders of the ruling coalition and supporting parties.
According to a press release issued here late Tuesday, the coordination committee resolved that the 93rd amendment to the Constitution, providing for reservation in educational institutions under the purview of the central government, will be implemented by the government in “letter and spirit”.
“The percentage of reservation for OBCs will be fixed at 27 percent. Legislation for this purpose will be brought before the Parliament’s monsoon session,” it said. After the law is passed by Parliament, reservation for OBCs will be implemented in educational institutions under the purview of the central government beginning from the academic session commencing in June 2007, it said.
The statement also said that keeping in view the interests of all sections of the student community and to meet their aspirations for opportunities for higher education, the number of seats in educational institutions under the purview of the central government will be increased, it said. An oversight committee will be constituted to draw up a time-bound roadmap for implementing the above decisions.
However, the government’s decision has further agitated the medicos opposing the reservation. “The government stabbed us in the back... It is going ahead with its plan to implement 27 percent OBC reservation without considering our demands. We will make our agitation more intense now,” said Anirudh Lochan, leader of “Youth for Equality” which is spearheading the agitation. Protests have intensified in Rajasthan and West Bengal following the government’s decision.
Organizations like Youth for Equality, Bharatiya Yuva Morcha, Nurses Association and Anti-Reservation Advocate Forum have given a joint call for Jaipur closedown today.
In West Bengal, the anti-quota protests intensified yesterday with medicos resorting to “cease work” in medical colleges across the state and junior doctors blocking the road at busy Park Circus crossing.
