UPA, Left to discuss OBC quota today

The uncertainty over OBC quota in elite educational institutions will continue for another day with the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) today deciding to discuss the issue at a UPA-Left meeting tomorrow.

The meeting will aim at reaching a wider political consensus on the issue. All decisions on how to deal with the issue, including the release of admission lists of IIMs, would be discussed at the meeting.

Stating that no decision was taken at today's meeting, HRD Minister Arjun Singh said, "A UPA-Left meeting tomorrow evening will decide the OBC quota issue." He said the fate of the IIMs' admission lists would also be decided tomorrow.

"Through the meeting, we will consult all the allies and reach a proper decision on all the issues," said Singh.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad said, "As views of all parties should be taken, we have called for a UPA-Left meeting. Nothing was decided today as some leaders, like Ramvilas Paswan, were not present. Parties like PMK were also not represented."

Addressing a press conference earlier in the day, Singh, who called on the prime minister to seek directions on the resolution of the crisis, said the orders of the Supreme Court received by the ministry said nothing about the second generation beneficiaries of OBC reservations. In the circumstances, "the creamy layer will be included in the reserved category," he said.

Singh said there was a "qualitative change" in the situation after the Supreme Court advanced the hearing in the case by three months. Describing the court direction as a "welcome step," Singh said, "it indicated that the court has understood the implications of this issue, which has wide-ranging ramifications. I hope the early hearing can lead to a solution."

Earlier in the day, PTI quoted the HRD minister as saying that it was "entirely possible" to allow admissions in the general category in elite educational institutions while putting on hold reservation for OBCs till the Supreme Court ruled on the matter.