Pro-reservation protests in the Capital

New Delhi: Countering the ongoing agitation against reservation in premier educational institutions, several activists took out a demonstration in the Capital in favour of quota, saying it was the only way to ensure quality education of poor students.

Activists of the Other Backward Class (OBC) Mahapanchayat and All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaj (AIPMM) staged a dharna at Jantar Mantar, shouting slogans and waiving placards demanding implementation of Centre's proposal to introduce quotas for OBCs.

"Reservation for OBCs is justified. It will facilitate the poor students get quality education," Convenor of OBC Mahapanchayat, Chattar Singh said.

He rubbished the argument that reservation for OBCs would lead to compromising with the quality of education.

"The poor students are lagging behind because they do not have access to quality education. They fail to afford it. Given good education, they will deliver like others," he said.

The activists have decided that they would conduct such Panchayats at various places in the Capital including Najafgarh, Mehrauli and Bawana to make “people aware of the benefits of reservation.”

Supporting reservation for OBC students, AIPMM President Ali Anwar said the minority institutions should be brought under the purview of reservation.

"The elite Muslims have a strong hold on the minority institutions. The poor and backward Muslims are getting a chance to pursue education. We demand reservation for OBC students in these institutions," he said.

Anwar said there are 17 crore Muslims in the country whose economic condition is very poor. Reservation in the minority institutions will be of immense help for them to be a part of the mainstream, he added.

Asked whether the elite among the OBCs would benefit by the reservation, Anwar advocated for further segregation in the category and implementation of reservation in a way so that the poorest of the poor get the benefit.

"Bihar government has classified OBCs into two categories. Accordingly, the Union government should classify the OBC people according to the economic condition and make provision for reservation," he added.