Moily returns fire on quota
The Pattali Makkal Katchi’s (PMK) bid to raise the pitch on its pro-reservation rhetoric by attacking Oversight Committee chairman Veerappa Moily, seems to have angered the senior Congress leader.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: The Pattali Makkal Katchi’s (PMK) bid to raise the pitch on its pro-reservation rhetoric by attacking Oversight Committee chairman Veerappa Moily, seems to have angered the senior Congress leader.
PMK founder S Ramadoss’ move of publicly berating Mr Moily for having “supported” the inclusion of the creamy layer in the Bill, despite belonging to a backward caste himself, has drawn a sharp rejoinder from the former Karnataka chief minister.
Without mincing words, Mr Moily in a letter reminded the OBC leader from Tamil Nadu that he should have no complaints as the oversight committee did not have an “agenda of its own” but was mandated to implement the decision of the government and the UPA co-ordination committee, of which the PMK was a constituent and holder of a ministerial berth through his son, Mr Anbumani Ramadoss.
The Congress leader also attempted to reign in the PMK boss by making it clear that such “issues” can be discussed before going to the press.
The letter which begins with Mr Moily recounting the charges made against him by Dr Ramadoss while addressing PMK workers reads: “You have said: ‘Though Veerappa Moily belongs to a backward community he had supported the inclusion of creamy layer in the 27% reservations for OBCs in all Central educational institutions.
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However, due to the intervention of Congress President Sonia Gandhi the move was stopped’.” Mr Moily held that the oversight committee did not take any decision on the ‘creamy layer’. He also dismissed the suggestion that Ms Gandhi intervened in the matter.However in a counter-charge of sorts he says: “It is not clear from the press statement (in which the attack on Mr Moily was made) whether your intention is to include or exclude the creamy layer.... I very well understand your concern, but there is no clarity in what you have mentioned.”
In response to Dr Ramadoss’ call to his party cadre to stage demonstrations against Mr Moily whenever he visited Tamil Nadu, the latter says he failed to understand such a move. “Your apprehension is misplaced. It is appropriate that you put more pressure on the UPA government and the UPA co-ordination committee.”
He said he had proved hi “credentials as a Congress leader committed to the cause of the SCs/STs, OBCs and minorities”. Talking about the relations between the PMK and the Congress, he said it was his “duty” as a Congress Working Committee (CWC) member in charge of Tamil Nadu to “sustain the unity and solidarity of both the DPA and the UPA.
You can always discuss the issue before going to the press”. Mr Moily also declared that the Congress party has no intention to create a situation of “conflict or confrontation”.
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