The Hindu : PMK for proportionate quotas for all

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 10, 2003

National

National

PMK for proportionate quotas for all

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI OCT. 9. The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), a constituent of the National Democratic Alliance, today opposed the Vajpayee Government's decision to provide reservation for the Economically Backward Classes (EBCs), stating that it favoured such a provision for all castes in proportion to the population.

"We oppose this reservation but are for giving it even to forward castes based on proportional representation according to population," the PMK leader, S. Ramadoss, told correspondents here today. He suggested that the Centre conduct a census of all castes to provide reservation on this formula.

The PMK chief parried questions on his party's stand when the proposed Constitutional amendment bill comes up in parliament to provide for reservation in Government jobs for EBCs. He said the AIADMK should make its stand clear on the issue and said the former Chief Minister, M.G. Ramachandran, had withdrawn a similar plan for reservation following stiff resistance.

He suggested that the Centre amend the Prevention of Terrorism Act, so that it could be applied only against those indulging in cross-border terrorism. Dr. Ramadoss urged the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to convene a meeting of the Cauvery River Authority at the earliest and finalise the distress-sharing formula evolved by the Monitoring Committee last month.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National