Quotas in pvt sector: PM says the time has come, rules out a law

Singh said he would prefer ‘‘voluntary action’’ to tackle the problem of providing equitable opportunities for weaker sections of society.

‘‘The private sector should try to employ persons from weaker sections of society. Nobody can avoid it as it is going to be a national policy,’’ Singh said at a press conference in the morning, one of three programmes held during his one-day campaign tour ahead of the assembly elections.

When told that the Maharashtra Government has already introduced a bill to enforce job quotas in the private sector, Singh said, ‘‘If any government is going beyond it, then it is their right.’’

The PM added that private players would be given an opportunity to voice their concerns on the issue to a group of ministers led by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.

Stressing the point again before an audience of traders and businessmen in the second half of the day, the Prime Minister said industry should examine ways of providing apprenticeship, training and retraining facilities so that youth from the weaker sections are not left out.

Although it was ‘‘a reality’’ that candidates from weaker sections may not be ‘‘suitable’’ in some cases, it needed to be understood ‘‘these sections had been disadvantaged for centuries on every front,’’ Singh told the elite gathering. However, he assured corporate barons that reservations in the private sector would not come about by way of legislation.

It was Singh’s second press conference since he took over as Prime Minister, and he seemed relaxed and confident in his responses. Dismissing suggestions about Sonia Gandhi playing a “super Prime Minister,” he said, ‘‘I am the Prime Minister and there are no dual centres of power.’’

He said Gandhi as president of the Congress and chairperson of the UPA was a ‘‘mighty source of strength.’’ When asked about his own performance so far, the economist-turned-politician replied, ‘‘I think I’m learning and learning on the job.’’

In efforts to woo the Mumbai electorate, which had elected five candidates from his party in the recent Lok Sabha polls, Singh also promised support for the Congress-NCP coalition’s plan to develop Mumbai on the lines of Shanghai.

‘‘When we talk of a resurgent Asia, people think of the great changes that have come about in Shanghai. I share this aspiration with the Chief Minister to transform Mumbai in the next five years in a manner that people would forget about Shanghai and Mumbai will become a talking point,’’ the Prime Minister said.

He said because of massive growth in population, Mumbai’s public transport, communications, basic social services and drinking water supply have been under strain. But he assured that money would be no major constraint for developmental work. ‘‘I believe Mumbai is the very soul of our country and what happens here reflects across the nation,’’ Singh told a pleased gathering.

As for the Shinde government’s free power scheme for farmers in Maharashtra, Singh expressed no worry ‘‘as long as the manner in which these subsidies are given is transparent.’’

The Prime Minister also targeted the Opposition for ‘‘harbouring illusions’’ that his government would not last its full tenure. He said after failing to create hindrances for the UPA by stalling Parliamentary proceedings, ‘‘they have now turned to astrologers and tantriks’’ to find ways and means to topple the government.

‘‘These forces have also not desisted from spreading false rumours about the instability of the gvernment and had gone so far as predicting its fall before my birthday,’’ he said.

Regarding scrapping of the Phukan Commission inquiring into the Tehelka expose, Singh said the panel did not adhere to a time-table and instead asked for another extension.

‘‘The panel has not been able to produce a report in its three-year stint. What is the guarantee that it will come out with a report after getting an extension of another three months,’’ he said. He refuted allegations that the government was working in a vindictive manner by transferring the probe to the CBI.