Amid opposition from the private sector to reserving jobs for SCs and STs, the Government on Tuesday said it will not impose quotas on India Inc, but only wanted more "affirmative action" from the industry for the socially underprivileged.
"Government is not talking of any enforced action for the industry that would be run down your throats," Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Ashwini Kumar said at a CII conference for the specially abled people here.
"You (industry) are already into affirmative action through your corporate responsibility initiatives. It does not need any enforced action, you are already doing it," he said, referring to the ongoing difference of opinion between the Government and the industry on reservation and affirmative action, which he termed as "spurious".
Students hold anti-reservation protests
Stepping up their protests against a government move to increase the quota for OBCs in institutions of higher learning, thousands of students today held rallies and demonstrations in several parts of the country.
In New Delhi, a large number of medical students of five premier colleges were joined by Delhi University and school students for an anti-reservation rally that made its way from the prestigious Maulana Azad Medical College to Jantar Mantar.
{{/usCountry}}In New Delhi, a large number of medical students of five premier colleges were joined by Delhi University and school students for an anti-reservation rally that made its way from the prestigious Maulana Azad Medical College to Jantar Mantar.
{{/usCountry}}In West Bengal, students and interns said they planned to intensify the ongoing stir. Junior doctors at the Chittaranjan National Medical College, who have been spearheading the protest in Kolkata, said they were in talks with students of all state-run medical colleges to join the agitation.
In Patna, the protestors burnt effigies of HRD Minister Arjun Singh and former PM VP Singh, who had implemented the Mandal Commission's recommendations.