E-Paper
FIR hunger strike from tomorrow
MEMBERS OF the Forum of Indians Against Reservation (FIR) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-K) would go on indefinite hunger strike from May 29 in protest against OBC reservation. According to FIR members, students of Harcourt Butler technology Institute (HBTI) and the GSVM Medical College would also participate in the hunger strike.
‘Quota to force brain drain’
MEMBERS OF the Forum of Indians Against Reservation (FIR) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-K) would go on indefinite hunger strike from May 29 in protest against OBC reservation. According to FIR members, students of Harcourt Butler technology Institute (HBTI) and the GSVM Medical College would also participate in the hunger strike.
The FIR has already conducted several protest rallies including recent a huge cycle rally of May 23 here. Recently on May 27 a delegation of the Forum had gone to New Delhi to participate at the national level meeting of students of premier institutions of the country on the reservation issue. The members said that the Forum had also aligned itself with the Youth for Equality, which is spearheading the anti-reservation movement in the country.Forum members said the hunger-strike decision was taken to gear up nationwide protests and to mobilize support from all sections of the society. FIR also appealed to the citizens of this city to extend their active support to the noble cause of keeping the nation united.
The members demanded immediate withdrawal of the proposed introduction of reservations for OBCs in premier Institutes and its further extension in private sector.
They said they were not against the uplift of the backward sections of the society and were willing to join hands and work towards a social revolution in sectors like promotion of education at primary and secondary level, providing health facilities and labour reforms in the country, which were needed for strengthening backward classes.
However, they apprehended that the existing reservation policy would force the best brains and industrial houses of the country to migrate.
