PMK chief accuses Lalu of shifting stance

NEW DELHI: Differences have come to the fore within the pro-quota bloc of the UPA on the implementation of OBC reservations in central educational institutions.

In a statement that hints at chinks within this OBC-dominated pro-quota group, PMK leader S Ramadoss hit out at RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Wednesday accusing him of having ‘wavering ideas’ on the issue.

Mr Ramadoss’s statement charging the Bihar leader of ‘oscillating’ on the issue comes in the wake of renewed pressure from the DMK on the Manmohan Singh government to ensure that reservations are rolled out in one go.

Even as the Tamil parties were beginning to flex their muscles, the Bihar leader had met the prime minister last week after which he declared his party would support whatever decision the government took on implementation of the new reservation proposal.

His remarks were interpreted as being in favour of staggered implementation of the quotas.

Subsequently, Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi wrote two letters to the Prime Minister on this subject. In the first, written on August 4, Mr Karunanidhi had pressed the government to deliver on its quota promise without any ‘dilution’.

He had also said that the PM should not give into the ‘unjust’ demands for ‘phased implementation’ or for excluding the ‘creamy layer’. Mr Ramadoss, in his meeting with the Oversight Committee chairman Veerappa Moily on Wednesday, reiterated these demands. He asked for 27% reservations for OBCs to be implemented from the next academic session and said that excluding the ‘creamy layer’ from the quota would be against the Constitution.

Mr Ramadoss, however, did not stop at this. “Lalu Prasad should lead the reservation issue. But he is oscillating. The pity is that no OBC leader from North India except Sharad Yadav has come forward to raise his voice on this issue,” he told agencies.

He also said that OBC leaders were backing out on the issue after coming to power with the backing of the OBCs. Mr Ramadoss said he would call on the Prime Minister and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on August 16 to discuss the matter.

Describing the delay in the implementation of the quota on the basis of some shortcomings as “unjustified”, the PMK leader said that if the government was not able to bring the Bill in the ongoing session, the process could be implemented through an Ordinance.

The government is also under pressure from the OBC parliamentarians forum against a staggered roll-out of the quota proposal. The lack of consensus within the UPA on the manner of implementation triggered a series of “consultation” meetings between the Congress and its allies last week.

At that time it seemed as if a pro-quota bloc dominated by the OBC-Dalit parties was emerging within the government.