The Times of India News Service

LUCKNOW: UP chief minister Rajnath Singh does not seem to be perturbed by the opposition from the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to his decision to give special job reservation within the existing quota of 50 per cent to the most oppressed among other backward classes (MOBCs) and the Dalits. While BSP leader Mayawati has announced to start an agitation from July 20 over the issue, SP chief Mulayam Singh has dubbed the CM's decision as a ``gimmick.''

Both these leaders have sought to increase the reservation quota, which can not be done under the Supreme Court ruling. In an informal chat here before leaving for Mumbai, the chief minister said that under no pressure he would change his stance and added that he was ready to go to any extent to implement the decision. He said the BSP and the SP stood exposed in the eyes of people by opposing the move. He said the BSP and the SP would be given a befitting reply by the people if they tried to harm their interests. Asserting that the reservation to the most oppressed sections would be given within the exiting quota, he, however, refused to disclose the modalities for it.

He said a final decision to this effect would be taken after submission of report by the Social Justice Committee, headed by parliamentary affairs minister, Hukum Singh. He explained that the BSP and the SP were opposed to the move because of their narrow political interests even as both of them claimed to be champions of the cause of the oppressed sections of the society.