The Hindu : National : Arjun denies Mulayam's charge

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 29, 2006

National

National

Arjun denies Mulayam's charge

Special Correspondent

Says SP too supported Constitution Amendment Bill

NEW DELHI: Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh on Sunday refuted Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav's charge that the proposed reservation for Other Backward Classes was a "vote catching ploy" of the Congress.

In a letter to Mr. Mulayam Singh, Mr. Arjun Singh reminded him that the Samajwadi Party too had supported the Constitution Amendment Bill in December last year for giving reservation to OBCs in institutes of higher learning.

Mr. Mulayam Singh said on Friday that Mr. Arjun Singh should be jailed for raking up the reservation issue during the Assembly elections in four States.

"Mr. Singh should be in jail for trying to derive political mileage out of the reservation issue,'' he said while addressing the conclave of the Samajwadi Party Mahila Sabha in Lucknow.

Mr. Mulayam Singh said that when the Election Commission could order an FIR against his younger brother, Shivpal Singh Yadav, for merely announcing development in Rae Bareli, then Mr. Singh should be in jail for his comment in which he had raked up the reservation issue to influence voters in favour of the Congress.

Reacting to Mr. Mulayam Singh's attack, Mr. Arjun Singh said: "As far as I remember I have not done any crime. In the eyes of a few people, I have done a crime, that is to secure a consensus across the political spectrum for the passage of the Constitutional Amendment Bill to provide reservation for SC/ST and OBCs in higher educational institutions.'' He said it also had the backing of the Samajwadi Party. "It is not clear on what charges you want me to be sent to jail," Mr. Arjun Singh said.

The HRD Minister said he was travelling to Saudi Arabia on Monday and on his return on June 6 would try to find out why should he be sent to jail.

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