New Delhi: Rejecting allegations that he was doing hard politics from a soft Ministry, Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh on Sunday said the decision to provide reservation in higher educational institutions was not his personal agenda but it had the endorsement of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the UPA Government.

"I am bothered neither about the bouquets nor about the brickbats on the reservation issue which is aimed at ensuring social justice," Mr Singh told a private news channel.

Panel report

Ruling out any dilution of the initiative, Mr. Singh said his Ministry had already initiated steps in the direction and would be in communication with the Union Cabinet by June 3-4 while the Oversight Committee on increasing the quantum of seats would be submitting its report by August 31.

In an obvious snub to the agitating medicos, the Minister said the opponents of the Bill should see reason rather than harping on their own perception of the issue.

Describing the decision as pragmatic rather than political, Mr. Singh said it was meant for the empowerment of the downtrodden rather than that of a political party as there was a total consensus among parties on the issue.

Mr. Singh ruled out a staggered implementation of the reservation, saying it was a fait accompli and would be effective from the next academic session.

In reply to a query, Mr. Singh said Bill for the enabling legislation for the implementation of the quota would be brought in the monsoon session of Parliament.

Infrastructure

Asked whether the country's elite institutions were competent enough to cope up with the proposed 54 per cent hike in seats to maintain the existing percentage of seats for the general category, he said a number of proposals were being discussed to build up the infrastructure.

The proposals, inter alia, include raising the retirement age of the faculty members from 62 to 65 years.

He minced no words to clarify that the 27 per cent quota for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) would not be sliced even after the increase in the seats.

— UNI

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