The Centre is continuing to grapple with the OBC reservation issue.
NEW DELHI: The Centre is continuing to grapple with the OBC reservation issue. The three-member Group of Ministers set up by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday to resolve the tangle had an inconclusive second round of meeting on Friday. The CWC, which is meeting again on Saturday, will discuss the entire gamut of the contentious issue.
Sources said a formula is being worked out to increase the number of seats as also institutions to ensure that the general category remained unaffected while implementing the quota. Sources said the increase in the number of seats and setting up of new institutions can only be done in a phased manner as the government will have to first think of developing necessary infrastructure.
A solution may take time as the ongoing budget session of Parliament will conclude on Tuesday and legislation is possible only in July when monsoon session begins. The other option is passing an ordinance. Striking medicos on Friday demanded an assurance from the government that it will not implement the proposed quota till the numbers of seats are increased.
So far, the medicos have been demanding a total rollback of the proposed OBC quota in institutions. A CPI team which called on the Prime Minister on Thursday was assured by the Prime Minister that the government would not go back on the quota issue. "There are some concerns expressed by a section, we are trying to address them. The GoM is also seized of the matter," CPI national secretary D Raja quoted Singh as saying.
Sources said the PM has also hinted at increasing the number of seats and institutions as some of the suggestions being examined. "Whatever the government may do, the SC/ST/OBC interests should be protected," Raja told the PM.
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