ON A MISSION: S. Ramadoss, president of PMK, at a press conference in Hyderabad on Thursday as V. Hanumantha Rao, Congress leader, and M. Ramadass of the PMK look on.

HYDERABAD: Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) president S. Ramadoss, who is going round the country to mobilise support for reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), has demanded implementation of the quota in higher educational institutions urgently and warned that it could not be phased out over a period.

During his visit here on Thursday, Dr. Ramadoss told reporters that the concept of creamy layer to exclude affluent sections among OBCs from the purview of reservations was not acceptable to the PMK.

He said the PMK was not happy with the 27 per cent quota announced for OBCs as it was not proportionate to their population. But the party would satisfy itself for the present as it was keen on a beginning being made on the issue. He had urged the Government to implement the policy of reservations for OBCs through an ordinance. UPA partners and Left parties supported his case, Dr. Ramadoss claimed.

Uma backs decision

Nellore Staff Reporter writes: Supporting the Centre's decision, Bharatiya Jan Shakti (BJS) president Uma Bharti said reservations for OBCs in educational institutions such as IITs and IIMs would be an affirmative action.

"But its timing raises several doubts as many believe that the move is aimed at garnering votes," she told reporters here on Thursday. She was here as part of her `Bharat Bachao' yatra.

Emphasising the need of introducing reservation system even in the private sector, she said that the Centre should first hold a national debate on this issue to arrive at a consensus.

She extending her party's support to separate Telangana.

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