YFE Press Release

YOUTH FOR EQUALITY,

11 A.M,

24 NOVEMBER 2006

NEW DELHI, INDIA

The present government's obstinacy to bring the reservation bill during the current session of the parliament is a hastily taken and avoidable decision. A careful examination of the 93^rd constitutional amendment and the subsequent reservation policy of the UPA government may offer contradictory interpretation. Our precise finding is that the 93^rd Constitutional amendment is actually an enabling amendment; it is not a compulsory requirement. The language of the amendment does not talk about reservations, the language talks about any provision by law for advancement of socially and educationally backward classes. The proposed extended reservation policy is targeting the best of the institutions of India in various fields ranging from Nuclear Research, Space Research, Medicine, Engineering, Fashion Technology, and Theatre to Studies of Social Sciences. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru established or visualized most of these institutions to convert India into a modern country taking it from the dogma of obscurantism, caste, creed and religion and to prepare India better to face the challenges of the coming centuries. He discounted any caste based entry to these institutions. Youth For Equality repose its full confidence in Pt. Nehru's vision of Modern India.

Reservations are politically popular but will barely touch the fringe of the problem. They may benefit a lakh or two from the creamy layer of backward castes. They will not benefit the millions of talented people left behind in the streets and fields of India. The most troubling truth about the whole reservation issue on the part of the government is the absence of a precise headcount on OBC population in whose interest the government is claiming to formulate the present reservation policy. Mandal puts it at 52 per cent, the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) at 32 per cent and the National Family and Health Survey at 29.8 per cent. Under such ambiguity it is humanely impossible to extend the benefit of the policy to the targeted populace. On the other hand Youth For Equality strongly believe that backwardness or poverty never confined to any caste or castes. So its eradication policy should not be confined to any particular caste or castes.

Since the announcement of the policy in the early April 2006, we have been raising our voice along with our friends from scientific community at different level in different volume. The report of the Parliament Standing Committee and the present version of the bill to be tabled in the parliament created serious deadlock in between the judiciary and the legislative. The legislature hell-bent to impose reservation is against the spirit of the constitution, while dodging the creamy layer issue and the modality adopted for its implementation.

To oppose this misrule of the present government the Youth For Equality is organizing countrywide agitation in the form of observing black day on 24^th of November 2006 and protest rally on 26^th of November across the country including Delhi. Youth for Equality is closely observing the proceeding at the Supreme Court and its violation by the Parliament. The YFE will be intensifying its agitation in the coming days in case government tries to overlook our concern.

Our appeal to the Monmohan Singh Government is to take an undisputable and legitimate view on the crucial matter of reservation, taking past experience and changing pattern of societal development into account and ensure the early restoration of normalcy in the country.

The ongoing agitation will be continued till our demands are met.

Miss. Shweta Gaur, Spokesperson, Youth for Equality

Miss. Sonika Tyagi, YFE Representative, New Delhi