CHENNAI: Dravidar Kazhagam president K.Veeramani has urged the Centre to pass the bill ensuring 27 per cent reservation for the other backward classes (OBCs) in Central educational institutions in the current session of Parliament.

Expressing concern over the delay in introducing the bill, Mr.Veeramani alleged that an attempt was being made to dilute the bill by introducing the creamy layer concept and exempting certain institutions from the ambit of OBC reservation.

Any move to introduce creamy layer was an attempt to divide the OBCs. When the creamy layer principle was not applicable to the general quota and scheduled castes and scheduled tribes categories, how could it be applicable to OBCs alone, he asked talking to newsmen here on Friday.

The DK leader said a majority of MPs were in favour of reservation and urged the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), constituents of the United Progressive alliance Government at the Centre and the Left parties, which are supporting from outside to pressure the Government for the introduction of the bill in the current session itself.

He warned that the DK would launch a nation-wide agitation along with parties that supported the reservation if the bill was not introduced in the current session itself in the present form.

`Ban Colas'

Mr.Veeramani demanded a ban on Pepsi and Coca Cola, as these multi-national companies were "exploiting water resources" in the country, especially in Tamil Nadu. Opposing any move to transfer the Papapatti, Keeripatti and Natramangalam panchayats from reserved to general list, he said it would be an injustice to Dalits.

Squarely blaming Sri Lankan President Rajapakse for the current `civil war" on the island, Mr.Veeramani said the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam were only retaliating against the attack by the Lankan Army.

He said it was unfortunate, that the Indian Government, which had condemned Israel for bombing Lebanon, had failed to pull up the Lankan Government for its alleged attack on Tamils.

Earlier the DK state executive committee, meeting under the chairmanship of K.Veeramani, adopted a resolution urging the Centre to implement 27 per cent reservation in all Central educational institutions and opposed any move to introduce creamy layer concept in the OBC reservation.

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