Ms. Jayalalitha’s foresight and approach has made all the difference! The President has given his assent to the State Bill providing for continuation of reservation of 69 per cent for the Backward and Most Backward Classes, paving the way for colleges to go ahead with the admissions. While all right thinking people would welcome this development, it must be appreciated that but for the Chief Minister’s moral conviction and sense of direction, this could not have fructified. Her deft handling of this rather emotive and explosive issue has carried the day and rendered social justice for Tamilnadu‘s Backward Classes.
One cannot help contrasting Ms Jayalalitha’s approach to the reservation issue with that of the Tamilnadu Opposition parties. Right from the time of the Supreme Court verdict restricting reservations to 50 per cent to the present favourable developments, Ms Jayalalitha has carried on alone crusade planning her every move with thoroughness and perfection. And all through she had the unstinted support of the people. Her decision to pass a bill in the Assembly to protect the existing levels of reservation, sending the same for presidential assent and her meeting with the Prime Minister along with an all-party delegation have produced the desired result, belying the expectations of the political (mis)fortune tellers, which is what the Opposition is in Tamilnadu. While Mr Karunanidhi spared no efforts to gain mileage out of the issue, he now beats a hasty retreat realising that his game is up, having been outsmarted on all counts. He has lost no time in announcing his party’s unconditional support to the constitutional amendment, ‘‘whatever form it may take’’. Mr Vazhapadi Ramamurthy, who has been making all sorts of ‘helpful’ suggestions like the one urging the State government to defy the apex court verdict is yet to have any such realisation. Mr Moopanar has however welcomed the decision but has attributed all credit to Mr P.V. Narasimha Rao, which is only expected.
Constitutional amendment
Ms Jayalalitha has underscored the need for bringing about a constitutional amendment to allow States to fix their reservation quota. The all-party meeting chaired by Mr Chavan last week exhibited the unanimity of all politicians for continuance of reservation at the present levels in the various States, irrespective of the Supreme Court verdict. The Chief Minister, while expressing her deepest and sincere gratitude for Mr Narasimha Rao’s efforts, has urged the Centre to take the initiative and necessary action to bring about the constitutional amendment, if possible in the ensuing parliamentary session itself. lt is prudent to strike while the iron is hot and the Centre must lose no time in taking advantage of the consensus which has emerged.
Ms Jayalalitha has also written to all parties throughout the country seeking support for the constitutional amendment. There is no doubt that her call would elicit favourable response, as all of them not only realise that it will be in their own enlightened self-interest but also understand that the Chief Minister will have her way.
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