State may accept 10 pc quota if 69 pc reservation not dented: OPS

Responding to DMK deputy leader of opposition in the Assembly Duraimurugan, he said the government has decided to consider the Centre’s proposal since it would help in Tamil Nadu getting 1,000 more MBBS seats and it does not affect the backward classes quota.

Pointing out that it was late chief minister J Jayalalithaa who had increased the reservation to 69 per cent by making an amendment in the Constitution, Panneerselvam said she could be described the “zenith of the evolution of the Dravidian Movement. Today except Tamil Nadu, no other state is able to implement 69 per cent reservation,” Panneerselvam said. He added that a decision will be taken after legal consultations.

On DMK president and leader of the Opposition MK Stalin’s question on some of the parties not invited for the Monday all party meeting on the issue, he said “originally the meeting

was planned only with the representatives of recognised political parties.”  However, following a suggestion from Stalin, a few other parties were also invited to ascertain their views. Panneerselvam also assured that steps would be taken to ensure that no party was left out next time.

In the all party meeting, chairedby Panneerselvam, representatives of 21 parties took part and expressed their views.

While a majority of the parties opposed it, some parties, including the BJP, Congress and CPM, supported it.

After the meeting, Panneerselvam said the government would consult legal experts and would take a decision without affecting the existing 69 per cent reservation being followed in the state.

The Opposition DMK on Tuesday said that the AIADMK government should have called all the political parties for the all-party meeting held on Monday to discuss the 10 per cent reservation for Economically Weaker Sections in upper caste issue. During a debate in the Assembly, DMK president MK Stalin claimed that the ruling party called only those political parties which are close to it. “Certain political parties called us and asked why they were not invited to the meeting,” he said adding “parties such as IJK, Kongu Nadu Makkal Katchi and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, that also have legislators, were not called.” The DMK leader also said that the Chief Minister should have come to the meeting and he had not raised the issue during the meeting. However, replying to Stalin, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said “there are about 80 political parties and if we call all of them, the meeting will go on for a day.” On his absence in the meeting, the Chief Minister said that the all-party meeting invite itself clearly mentioned that the gathering will be chaired by Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.