CHENNAI: Congress workers are unhappy with the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee's "mild reaction" to Pattali Makkal Katchi leader S. Ramadoss' tirade against the party's central leaders over the introduction of a Bill in Parliament on reservation for Other Backward Classes.

According to Dr. Ramadoss, the Bill has been diluted with M. Veerappa Moily, chairman of the Oversight Committee on the implementation of the reservation policy, recommending a phased introduction of reservation for OBCs in premier educational institutions.

The PMK leader criticised Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram for not protesting against the introduction of the Bill.

"No basis for criticism"

TNCC president M. Krishnasswamy told The Hindu that both Mr. Moily and Mr. Chidambaram had strongly supported reservation for the OBCs. Hence there was no basis for the criticism made by Dr. Ramadoss. The PMK leader's statement, according to him, was his personal view.

A senior Congress functionary said the State leadership should have issued a strong statement against Dr. Ramadoss. "It is unfortunate that the PMK, a constituent of the United Progressive Alliance Government, issues a statement against Congress leaders."

Party leaders, who did not want to be quoted, said the Government decided to introduce the Bill after it was cleared by a Cabinet meeting also attended by Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss. The Minister knew that the Bill was going to be introduced in Parliament. The Prime Minister would not have introduced the Bill had it not been cleared by the Cabinet.

"Not in a hurry"

Mr. Moily told The Hindu that the party was for ensuring reservation for the OBCs in a phased manner so that the interests of all people were taken care of. It was not in a hurry to introduce reservation in one stroke. He was personally for giving preference to the poor strata of society with the creamy layer being at the bottom of the OBC category.

Leader of the Congress Legislature Party D. Sudarsanam said no one could undermine the commitment of the party to reservation for OBCs. Senior party leader A. Gopanna said that unlike in the south, in north India, especially in Uttar Pradesh, forward community people were substantial in number. The Government should take into consideration their interests too.

Both leaders said Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had endorsed the Congress stand on the issue.

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