Kalam summons Arjun, seeks answers on quota

Arjun Singh said quota proposal was ‘‘a logical outcome of the Presidential assent’’ to Constitution’s 93rd amendment

In the wake of Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Arjun Singh’s controversial quota announcement, President A P J Abdul Kalam today summoned him for an half-an-hour-long meeting and sought answers on the issue of OBC reservations.

According to sources, Singh briefed the President on the status of the proposal. He is understood to have told the President that proposal to extend 27 per cent reservations to OBCs in premier educational institutions has been ‘‘a logical outcome of the Presidential assent’’ to the 93rd amendment to the Indian Constitution on January 20, 2006.

This was Singh and Kalam’s first meeting on the issue after the announcement made on April 5. Sources said Singh reiterated his version that now the ‘‘proposal awaits Cabinet approval’’.

Story continues below this ad

He also detailed the entire process of preparation of the Cabinet note— right from the Presidential nod to the amendment and up to the HRD ministry sending the note along with the proposed bill to the Cabinet Secretariat on March 27, sources said.

The meeting was held following sustained agitations in Delhi and in other parts of the country and petitions sent to the President.

Another issue which came up during the meeting was the allegations against the Vice-Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). A petition has been forwarded to Kalam regarding the V-C’s style of functioning, mostly related to irregular appointments and statutory violations.

When Kalam sought to know the action being taken by the government, sources said Singh replied that the inquiry has been initiated and the ministry was waiting for the inquiry report before initiating any action against the V-C.

Story continues below this ad

However, according to sources, the President did not express his views on any of the two issues.

Sonam Raghuvanshi and Raja Raghuvanshi, meghalaya honeymoon murder news, indian express

‘Raja was killed in front of Sonam’: Chargesheet filed in Meghalaya honeymoon murder case

India22 min ago

In a 790-page chargesheet filed on Saturday, the East Khasi Hills police in Meghalaya alleged that the honeymoon murder of Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi took place in the presence of his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, following a criminal conspiracy hatched by her and Raj Kushwaha, with whom she was in a relationship.

View all shorts

Live Blog