SFI’s quota stand puts Left in a fix

KOLKATA: In Delhi, the CPI(M) may have hustled the UPA government into implementing 27.5 per cent reservations for OBCs in institutions of higher education, but in its own stronghold, West Bengal, the CPI(M)-led government has decided against any action again anti-reservation agitators. More ironically, the party’s student wing, the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) is in fact providing crucial logistical and political support to anti-reservation activists.

 

The students’ unions of reputed medical colleges of the state like Calcutta Medical College, NRS Medical College, National Medical College and RG Kar Medical College are controlled by SFI and unions in these institutions are in forefront in the anti-reservation campaign, which has forced the CPI(M) leadership to take a wary approach. 

 

In fact, anti-CPI(M) slogans have been raised during agitations by the student leaders of these reputed medical colleges. State secretary  Biman Bose is equally cautious in giving his reaction. “There have been some excesses in the name of agitation, which is harmful for the society in general,” Bose said. At the same time, he was prompt in shifting the blame to the Union government. "We are not against reservation. But at the same time, we have been demanding that reservation should be implemented only after increase in the number of the seats in such higher education institutions, so that it does not affect any section of the society," Bose said.