Students protesting OBC quota stage demo in capital

NEW DELHI: Students protesting the quota for OBCs in higher educational institutions on Tuesday staged a demonstration in the capital and clashed with the police as they were prevented from marching towards Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's residence.

The protesters under the banner of Youth for Equality were demanding that the Supreme Court order on OBC quota be implemented in its "true spirit" and marched towards Gandhi's residence but were prevented from going forward.

As agitators persisted and tried to break open the security cordon, police used mild force and water canons to disperse them.

About a dozen protesters suffered minor injuries in the clash.

Over 200 students, including those from five city medical colleges, Delhi University and JNU, were detained after they clashed with police.

Protesters alleged that the government was trying to circumvent the Supreme Court ruling by planning to extend quota benefit to post graduate courses.

"We want the Supreme Court verdict to be implemented in its right spirit," said Jatin, a member of Youth for Equality.

The Supreme Court had on April 10 upheld the controversial law providing 27 per cent quota for OBCs in IITs, IIMs and other central educational institutions but excluded the "creamy layer" from its ambit.