Quota: No success for GoM on Day 1

A government source, however, said a ‘‘solution is emerging’’ as the group gets cracking. Ramadoss, under whom the All India Institute of Medical Sciences falls, is also representative of the pro-reservation PMK that represents the formidable backward Vanniyar community in Tamil Nadu. The other members of the GoM are Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Pranab Mukherjee and HRD minister Arjun Singh.

Congress sources said the Prime Minister is expanding the process of consultation on the issue. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) will meet on May 20 while the core committee of the Congress will meet on Friday. The UPA Coordination Committee will meet May 22.

Besides, the prime minister is seeking inputs from state governments on the issue and possible means of increasing the intake capacity of institutions. The prime minister will meet representatives of various political parties from Monday onwards. ‘‘The GoM will come out with a formula that will implement the commitment to the OBC, without affecting the interests of any one. They are working sincerely,’’ Congress spokesperson Rajiv Shukla said. Introducing reservation in a phased manner and simultaneously increasing the intake capacity is the most talked about formula in government circles. But this may invite new complications with the powerful OBC MPs lobby already disapproving such a move.

Meanwhile, AICC general secretary Oscar Fernandes assured striking students that he would try to facilitate an audience with the prime minister soon. The students met Fernandes late this night but no solution to the impasse emerged. Fernandes said the students were assured that the government would take measures so that their prospects in PG courses would not be affected due to the reservation. The students, however, stuck to their demand that PM make a statement and a judicial commission revisit the whole question of reservation, including the existing provision for scheduled castes and tribes. Fernandes later took the student representatives for a meeting with Mukherjee. ‘‘We put forward our point of view and they came out with their suggestions. Talks are expected to continue,’’ said Dr Harsh, a representative of the Resident Doctors’ Association of AIIMS.

Quota plan against Hindus: VHP

• NEW DELHI: The VHP has described the proposal for reservations for OBCs in higher education as a conspiracy to divide Hindus. VHP president Ashok Singhal urged students not to get involved in the issue ‘‘which is actually a conspiracy to divide Hindus’’. However, he refused to spell out the VHP’s position on the quota. ‘‘All that I can say is that students should not fall into this trap. OBCs are Hindus too – efforts should be made for the uplift of the entire Hindu community,’’ he said. ‘‘The Congress cannot escape responsibility for this, having ruled over the country most of the time since Independence.’’

–pti