The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Karunanidhi seeks Parliamentary Committee to protect Backward Classes' interests

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Friday, May 25, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Karunanidhi seeks Parliamentary Committee to protect Backward Classes' interests

Special Correspondent

Chief Minister addresses Social Justice Conference in Chennai

SOCIAL JUSTICE: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi being welcomed by Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines Dasari Narayana Rao (second from left), PMK president G.K.Mani (second from right) and TNCC president M. Krishnasswamy at the conference in Che nnai on Thursday. — Photo: K. Pichumani

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Thursday urged the Centre to take immediate steps to constitute a Parliamentary Committee for safeguarding the interests of the Backward Classes (BCs) including social justice.

Addressing a Social Justice Conference organised here by the All India Confederation of Other Backward Class Employees' Welfare Associations, Mr. Karunanidhi appealed to all backward sections, including Dalits, to strive for ensuring that the Centre sets up such a panel.

Mr. Karunanidhi said that he would appeal to the United Progressive Alliance Government and persuade it to form the Parliamentary Committee, which was essential to meet the challenges posed to social justice. He also made it clear that even an agitation would be launched if necessary to highlight the demand.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government would argue the case for constituting the panel, besides calling an all-party meeting to discuss the issue and taking it up with the Centre through a delegation to New Delhi, he said.

It was cause and not power or position that was important to him, Mr. Karunanidhi said, stressing the need for ensuring that the oppressed people regained their rights and glory, which were lost owing to denial of due opportunities in education and employment.

He pinned his hopes on the youth who, he said, had to rededicate themselves to the cause of continuing the battle for social justice till it was won.

Even when the first Constitutional amendment was made by the Congress Government headed by Jawaharlal Nehru to uphold social justice, it was opposed by some sections, he recalled.

Draft bill ready

Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan said her Ministry had prepared a draft bill to provide statutory powers to the National Commission for Backward Classes.

She expressed the hope that Mr. Karunanidhi, during his forthcoming visit to New Delhi, would discuss the issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines Dasari Narayana Rao said the UPA Government was committed to taking steps to ensure social justice for the BCs and other oppressed sections.

Minister for Agriculture Veerapandi S. Arumugam said suitable constitutional amendments were necessary to safeguard social justice.

Schemes for Dalits, BCs

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief M.Krishnasswamy said the UPA Government and the DMK Government were implementing several schemes for the welfare of Dalits and BCs.

Pattali Makkal Katchi president G. K. Mani appealed to the Dalits and the BCs to work together for asserting social justice against the backdrop of impediments posed to the UPA Government's efforts to provide 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in Central educational institutions of excellence.

Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani called for creation of a new Schedule in the Constitution to make sure that laws related to reservation were not brought under judicial review.

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