National

OBC MPs reject creamy layer concept

NEW DELHI: The Parliamentary Forum of Other Backward Class MPs on Tuesday unanimously rejected the concept of creamy layer as ruled by the Supreme Court.

This rejection of the creamy layer concept that the government has accepted in the wake of the Court order was taken at a meeting of the Forum here.

Attended by four members of the Union Council of Ministers — Anbumani Ramadoss, R. Velu, Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan and V. Narayanasamy — the meeting drew participation from most political parties.

Later, Forum convener V. Hanumantha Rao told The Hindu that the OBC MPs planned to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi and all Opposition party leaders to communicate their rejection of the creamy layer concept.

Since all members of Parliament are expected to be in the Capital around April 29 when the Union Budget is to be put to vote, the Forum hopes to meet the top leadership of the country at that time with their demands, some of which are long-pending.

Key demands of the Forum are constitution of a Parliamentary Committee for OBCs along the lines of a similar panel for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, implementation of the Nachiappan Committee Report including reservation in judiciary, and reservation in private educational institutions.

Tuesday’s meeting was attended by 40 members of the 145-strong Forum.

Besides the four Ministers, prominent among those present were Sharad Yadav (Janata Dal-United), Sachin Pilot and Madhu Yakshi Goud (Congress), K. Yerrannaidu (Telugu Desam Party) and Devendra Prasad Yadav (Rashtriya Janata Dal).

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