But Union Human Resources Development Minister says he will not reconsider the proposal on quotas in higher education.
NEW DELHI: Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh made good his promise to speak to the students agitating on the quota issue after the assembly elections. But he refused to back down on his proposal to introduce 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in higher education.
At a press conference on Sunday, Singh invited the students for a dialogue but rejected a “relook” at the proposals. He said it is up to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to decide when to bring the matter to the Cabinet.
“I will always talk to protesting students,” Arjun Singh said. He condemned the lathi-charge on students in New Delhi and Mumbai and said that if people want to make their point peacefully, they have the right to do so.
But he said, “Through protest and one-sided actions, we cannot resolve the issue. So, there is neither a need nor is it proper to disturb peace… Nobody is talking about removing the students who are studying in the institutions at present.”
On the status of his proposal, Singh said, “As soon as the Prime Minister allows it to come to the Cabinet, a decision will be taken.”
Singh dismissed as “propaganda” attempts to project the anti-quota agitation as Mandal II. “There is no Mandal II, III, or IV. It is all propaganda to vitiate the whole atmosphere.”
He pointed out that no party is against the proposal, and the Lok Sabha had unanimously passed a constitutional amendment to allow reservations in all educational institutions.
Once again attacking the National Knowledge Commission headed by Sam Pitroda, he said: “They do not know that there is a Parliament and there is a law passed by Parliament. If they are unaware, then I can only pity them.”
On the other hand, the anti-quota stir intensified in New Delhi and several other cities on Sunday. Medical students and junior doctors struck work and disrupted services at state-run hospitals. About 100 students and resident doctors of five medical colleges in Delhi began an indefinite hunger strike at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
Medicos also intensified protests in Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Cuttack, and Berhampur. In Bangalore, engineering students joined medical students in a protest rally. Medical students also protested in Lucknow and Surat.
Responding to the stir by resident doctors in the national capital, the Union health ministry has asked medical superintendents to ensure that health services are not disrupted. Union Health Secretary PK Hota said the ministry has reminded medical superintendents of a Supreme Court directive prohibiting medical workers from disrupting services.
To maintain smooth functioning of its facilities, AIIMS cancelled the leave of all senior doctors. Meanwhile, doctors under the Central Government Health Scheme have been roped in to maintain services in hospitals, which have also been told to create an emergency duty system, pressing into service senior faculty and specialists.
-- With agencies
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