Reservation row: CM Pinarayi Vijayan says no going back'

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Saturday that there was no going back on the government decision to reserve 10 per cent jobs in Devaswom boards for the economically poor among the forward communities. At a meeting in Agali, the Chief Minister said the apprehensions over 10 per cent reservation were misplaced. He expressed surprise over the opposition to government decision from some quarters. Mr Vijayan said along with provision for 10 per cent reservation for poor among the forward communities, the government had increased the quota of the backward communities in Devaswom jobs. There will be no impact on SC/ST reservation because of quota for forward communities.

In last Cabinet, the government had increased Ezhava community's quota from existing 14 per cent to 17 per cent, SC/ST communities from 10 per cent to 12 per cent and non-Ezhava OBC communities from 3per cent to 6 per cent. The government has come under sharp attack from SNDP Yogam and the Muslim League for setting aside 10 per cent for the poor among the forward communities. The Yogam has demanded the rollback of decision which it described as unconstitutional.

The SNDP has decided to take legal recourse against the government decision. The Yogam leadership claims that already 90 per cent posts in Devawom boards are occupied by forward community members. According to Muslim League, the government decision was aimed at appeasing the Sangh Parivar. The state government's decision will only help the Centre to pursue their anti-reservation policy vigorously. Kerala Congress (B) leader R. Balakrishna Pillai hailed the decision to reserve 10 per cent jobs in Devaswom boards for poor among forward communities.