Cong move fast to contain quota ruling fallout

NEW DELHI: In an attempt to pre-empt efforts of the quota enthusiasts within the alliance and its political rivals to corner the government on its failure to implement the scheme, the Congress on Friday sought a discussion on the matter in Parliament. This will give it an opportunity to display its quota credentials as well as the attempts being made to get a favourable Supreme Court order.

“The Supreme Court has not vacated the stay (on OBC reservations). We want to know what the government is going to do for OBC students this year,” Congress’ chief whip in the Rajya Sabha, V Narayansamy said. The party had earlier identified the OBC quota issue and the Sachar committee report on the socio-economic and educational status of Muslims as big challenges facing it in the run-up to the next general elections in 2009.

However, before that a number of state elections are due, with Gujarat going to the polls late this year and Himachal Pradesh in early 2008. In these campaigns, the Congress will have to answer the BJP’s charge that the government has adopted a casual approach in dealing with the OBC quota case in the apex court. It will have to explain the rationale for not keeping out the ‘creamy layer’ from the ambit of Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006, as the BJP has demanded.

It’d also want to be seen as matching, if not outdoing, its OBC allies such as the DMK, the PMK and the RJD, which have expressed dissatisfaction with the court’s verdict on the one hand, but claimed credit for the quota on the other. The party might have decided to make a start by talking on behalf of OBC students in Parliament where it knows the matter is bound to come up during the monsoon session.

Other than OBC reservations, Congress members have given a notice for discussion on the price situation in the country, as distinct from the “price rise”. Though the price rise in essential commodities has been brought under control, the Congress wants to know from the government what steps it is taking to keep prices stable.

Also high on their agenda are the flood situation in several states as well as the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, on which the prime minister is expected to make a statement on Monday. The Congress is treading a cautious line on the Sachar committee report as the CPM has asked for a discussion on the study, which paints a grim picture of the condition of Muslims in the country.