The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Vested interests blamed for stir against reservation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 27, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Vested interests blamed for stir against reservation

Special Correspondent

Efforts are on to counter the agitation, says S. Ramadoss

PRO-QUOTA: (From left) PMK founder president S. Ramadoss and president G.K. Mani addressing a press conference in Bangalore on Friday along with AIPJD leader H.C. Mahadevappa. — Photo: K. Murali Kumar

Bangalore: Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder president S. Ramadoss has said that the anti-reservation agitation in New Delhi and several States is being engineered by some vested interests, and efforts are on to mobilise backward class organisations to counter it.

Dr. Ramadoss is visiting all the State capitals to draw the attention of the people to the Centre's move to provide 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes in institutions of higher learning. He told presspersons here on Friday that he would attempt to expose those spreading falsehood and encouraging students to take to the streets against the new reservation policy.

Several political leaders from the State, particularly those associated with the AHINDA movement of the former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, have expressed support to the struggle launched by Dr. Ramadoss. AHINDA was represented by the former Minister H.C. Mahadevappa and Mukadappa, former member of the Karnataka Public Service Commission, at a news conference called by Dr. Ramadoss here. The former MP from Bihar Ram Avadesh Singh and PMK president G.K. Mani, MLA, were also present.

The PMK leaders charged that some corporate houses were encouraging the anti-reservation agitation since they also had vested interests. This matter had been brought to the notice of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The same groups that opposed the implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations were now attempting to block the implementation of the Constitution amendment providing reservation for Other Backward Classes.

Dr. Ramadoss said students should not take the law into their hands. They should end their agitation and discuss the issue with the Government. He accused a section of the media of highlighting only the anti-reservation agitation.

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