Congress to discuss DMK demand on constitution with UPA partners

The demand will be discussed at the UPA coordination committee meeting of allies, reports Saroj Nagi.

The Congress will discuss DMK’s demand that the Constitution needs to be reappraised and rewritten keeping in mind changing needs with other UPA partners. The demand was made in the context of the Ninth Schedule which the Supreme Court said can be opened to judicial scrutiny and puts a question mark on Tamil Nadu’s decision to peg the reservation quota at 69 per cent.

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"The demand will be discussed at the UPA coordination committee meeting of allies and a proper view will be taken," said AICC spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan.

Significantly, the Congress had opposed the move to rewrite the Constitution when the NDA government had set up a Constitution Review Commission. The DMK was at that time a part of the NDA grouping.

Natarajan was quizzed on the Congress’ objection at that time and its willingness to discuss the matter now. "If a coalition partner makes a demand, we need to go into it," she said, rejecting a comparison between the Congress’ willingness to discuss the matter and the NDA’s exercise.

Reacting to a query, the spokesperson said that since the issue concerned social justice, it would also be discussed at the highest level in the party.