New Delhi: The Supreme Court order putting a stay on OBC quota implementation in government institutes of higher education has elicited strong response from the political fraternity.
Parties cutting across the political spectrum criticised the ruling describing it as retrograde. Many parties sought Parliament's "intervention" in the matter, with government making clear it clear that Parliament will stick to the law for the 27 per cent quota for OBCs.
Such was the resentment against the SC ruling that the DMK-led coalition in Tamil Nadu also called for a bandh in the state on March 31 to express the "people's anguish".
Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, whose state is a pioneer in affirmative action and has reservations of up to 74 per cent, expressed shock at the judgement.
The resentment was also palpable in Congress and BJP but they remained politically vague in expressing their reactions. The Left was the only government ally that came out with the strongest reactionsaying the step would not help in implementing policies to ensure social justice and equality.
CPI-M chief Prakash Karat termed the SC move as "unfortunate and uncalled for". Karat also said the government should have intervened even when the apex court questioned the Constitution's ninth schedule.
He said several states had implemented the quota on the basis of OBC lists even in Central services and wondered what was the problem in extending it to educational institutions.
However, the mood was celebratory in the anti-reservation camp and various groups hailed the order that provided for 27 per cent reservation for backward classes in IITs, IIMs and Central universities.
Students from many universities were seen celebrating and distributing sweets as the news of the verdict spread.
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