Your opinion counts, Kalam tells students

NEW DELHI: A five-member student delegation met President APJ Abdul Kalam on Thursday to present a petition against reservations.

The students came out of the 20-minute meeting looking extremely pleased. “He was really nice to us. Initially, he asked us to introduce ourselves and give a little introduction of how we came to be associated with the cause."

"He also listened patiently to our view on reservation. When we asked him what his view on reservations was, he said that his ideas were not important. You are the youth of today and your opinions will shape our future, is what the President said,” said Aditya Raj Kaul, a class XII student who was a part of the delegation.

The President, however, did not comment on reservations per se, but he did say that a review committee should be set up to examine how all those who have availed of reservations have fared.

“He said this was essential to know the success or failure of reservations,” said Gursimran Khamba, a member of the delegation.

The one thing that the President said was that both primary and secondary education need to be geared up. “When we told him we have students from SC/ST and OBC’s supporting the cause, he looked pleased. We are sure he will help us,” said Devika Malik, the lone female representative in the delegation.