Govt committed to reservation: Arjun

Amidst the raging controversy over reservation, Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh today dismissed allegations of a "personal agenda" being pushed by him on the issue, and said the government was committed to implementation of the constitutional amendment providing for quota for OBCs in elite educational institutions.

"A canard is being spread by certain section of the people that the objective of this government and this house (Lok Sabha) is being hijacked by me as my personal agenda," Singh said during question hour in the Lok Sabha today.

"I want to assure the house and everybody that the UPA government and i, as a servant of this government, will see that the 93rd Amendment of the constitution giving reservation to SC/STand OBCs in private and unaided institutions is implemented," he said.

In the face of mounting protests, Singh today said the government was "not unmindful" of concerns expressed by agitating students against reservations, and that it was seriously considering all options that will also satisfy them.

"I would like to assure the Lok Sabha that we are concerned about the issue. And it is not as if we are unmindful of the fact that a section of the people or the students feel that something is being taken away from them.

"I would like to dispel that impression. We are very seriously considering all the options that could give help to those sections of the people or the community who have at the moment acquired a certain stake in the entire thing," he said replying to supplementaries during the question hour.

He promised to get back to the house with a "comprehensive roadmap to ensure what the house wants in this context."