Pro and anti-reservationists hit the streets Agitations by Medicos and Anti-reservationists supported by communalist forces NEW DELHI, MAY 2 (PTI) Both pro and anti-reservation activists today hit the streets here hailing and flaying the government's proposed move to hike OBC quota in higher educational institutions. Hundreds of students from five medical colleges rallied here opposing the government plan, while Muslims, SCs and STs sat on separate dharnas at Jantar Mantar in support of the UPA government's move to increase the quota. Students termed the proposed move as "vote-bank politics" and "cheap tricks to gain popularity", while pro-reservation activists dubbed it as "secularisation of reservation" and an attempt to "bring social justice" in the country. Medicos, who have become the face of the anti-reservation protests, said they will be forced to take "some extreme steps" in case the Government plans to go ahead with its decision to hike the quota. "Today's rally is just a glimpse of what we can do. We are waiting till May 11. If he (Singh) fails to keep his word, there won't be many options left with us but to unleash a direct fight. And it will be between the youth of the country and the political class," Safal, a representative of Youth for Equality, which spearheads the agitation, said. Muslims, under the banner of the All India Minorities Front and supported by the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party, and SCs and STs belonging to the Indian Justice Party led by Udit Raj held separate sit-ins at the same venue. Reservation to Muslims, SCs, STs and OBCs, who constitute 77 per cent of the population, will ensure equality and social justice in the field of education, Minorities Front President S M Asif said. Panthers Party Delhi unit Chief Sanjay Sachdev said "only reservation can take the country forward in the path to progress and equality" and criticised the agitation by medicos, saying "they are supported by communalist forces." Justifying reservation in higher educational institutions, Udit Raj said "even the prestigious Harward University has special quotas for women, black and Asians and no body is complaining that its standard has come down". He also exuded confidence of the controversial reservation bill getting passed in Parliament, saying "in a democracy the will of the majority prevails." With both pro and anti-reservation activists gathering at the Jantar Mantar simultaneously, police had a tough time managing the situation from getting out of control.
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