The Reason of the Protest on FRIDAY, 26th May 2006 1’ o CLOCK..by Ashish (For ITPROFFMUMBAI )

FRIDAY, 26th May 2006 1’ o CLOCK : PEACE MARCH by IT Proff against RESERVATION in MBP MAHAPE.
Friends we have got the police and local administration approval for the Peace Procession


Hi friends please read each and every line of this ............The reason we are doing so .....

Some facts about the current government that is too much evident from HRD Minister’s interview:

· NO ACCOUNTABILITY
Most of the people would accept that steps are necessary to help the OBCs gain greater access to higher education. The real question is - Why do you believe that reservations is the best way of doing this?
Arjun Singh: I wouldn't like to say much more on this because these are decisions that are taken not by individuals alone. And in this case, the entire Parliament of this country - almost with rare anonymity - has decided to take this decision.
· LACK OF DATA AND KNOWLEDGE(which makes basis for any action, so no base for reservation decision)
Karan Thapar: In which case, lets ask a few basic questions; we are talking about the reservations for the OBCs in particular. Do you know what percentage of the Indian population is OBC? Mandal puts it at 52 per cent, the National Sample Survey Organisation at 32 per cent, the National Family and Health Survey at 29.8 per cent, which is the correct figure?
Arjun Singh: I think that should be decided by people who are more knowledgeable. But the point is that the OBCs form a fairly sizeable percentage of our population.

· NEGLIGENCE OF FACTS AND DATA TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING UNJUSTIFIABLE
It says that looking at the Delhi University, between 1995 and 2000, just half the seats for under-graduates at the Scheduled Castes level and just one-third of the seats for under-graduates at the Scheduled Tribes level were filled. All the others went empty, unfilled. So, again, even in Delhi University, reservations are not working.
Arjun Singh: If they are not working, it does not mean that for that reason we don't need them. There must be some other reason why they are not working and that can be certainly probed and examined. But to say that for this reason, 'no reservations need to be done' is not correct.
Karan Thapar: Fifty years after the reservations were made, statistics show, according to The Hindustan Times, that overall in India, only 16 per cent of the places in higher education are occupied by SCs and STs. The quota is 22.5 per cent, which means that only two-thirds of the quota is occupied. One third is going waste, it is being denied to other people.
Arjun Singh: As I said, the kind of figures that have been brought out, in my perception, do not reflect the realities. Realities are something much more and of course, there is an element of prejudice also.

· DENYING INDIA THE STATUS OF MODERN SOCIETY
Karan Thapar: I want very much to talk about that formula, but before we come to talk about how you are going to address concerns, let me point one other corollary - Reservations also gives preference and favour to caste over merit. Is that acceptable in a modern society?
Arjun Singh: I don't think the perceptions of modern society fit India entirely.

· DENYING PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION
Karan Thapar: But if the government knows what to do, why won't you tell me what the government wants to do?
Arjun Singh: Because unless the decision is taken, I cannot tell you.
Karan Thapar: But you can share with me as the Minister what you are thinking.
Arjun Singh: No.
Karan Thapar: So, in other words, we are manitaining a veil of secrecy and the very people who are concerned...
Arjun Singh: I am not maintaining a veil of secrecy. I am only telling you what propriety allows me to tell you.

· NO CONCERN ABOUT THE STUDENTS WHO ARE MOST AFFECTED
Karan Thapar: But there are people who feel that their lives and their futures are at stake and they are undertaking fasts until death.
Arjun Singh: It is being hyped up, I don't want to go into that.

No points for guessing, the welfare of OBCs is the last reason for extending reservation. Let me point out the probable reasons for this action
1. VOTES VOTES VOTES!!!
2. Because the govt. has failed miserably in improving the state of universities owned by it and these universities have been unable to produce employable graduates, so it wants to control the autonomous institutions for dissimulate its failure.
3. Personal envy of Arjun Singh against Manmohan Singh as Karan Thapar had pointed out and later no one including prime minister could oppose the move for the threat of loosing the votes.
Whatever affected the politicians to take this unjustifiable, illogical and ridiculous decision but it is clear that the government can only provide roadblock to the progress of a nation and its people. It is for us to think about ourselves, overcome the obstacles and Succeed and it applies to OBCs also.

By
Ashish Kumar Gupta
Amit Srivastava