Editorial in today's edition of The Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1531724.cms
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The anti-quota protests are turning nasty. Ever since HRD minister Arjun Singh announced reservation for OBCs in centrally-funded educational institutions, there have been rumblings in the student community. Over the past few days, protests have gained momentum with medical students spearheading the agitation. Singh, however, remains defiant and has now passed the buck to the Union cabinet and Parliament. The sequence of events highlights a singular lack of transparency on the part of government. First, the HRD ministry announ-ced its proposal to reserve seats in central educational institutes even before the cabinet had taken a final decision. Second, the timing of the announcement just when elections were to be held in five states made obvious the motive behind the quota. Third, there has been a resounding silence on the part of government on the entire issue with Singh alone taking the credit or blame, depending on which side of the fence one stands for masterminding reservations for OBCs. The prime minister has done himself little credit by failing to clarify government's stand on the issue. He has, in fact, been guilty of playing along with Singh by raising the issue of reservation in the private sector. Whatever be the motives of the UPA government in instituting quotas for OBCs, it lays bare the proclivity of governments in India whoever be in office to push through policy without the necessary public debate. It is difficult to believe that Singh thought of reserving seats for OBCs all by himself. There must have been debate within the UPA on the merits of an OBC quota before the HRD ministry decided to casually go public with it. But none of what preceded Singh's sudden announcement is public knowledge. It is also obvious that there is no consensus on quota. A majority of the National Knowledge Commission, which reports directly to the PM, has been vocal in its objections to reservation. Singh has, however, brushed aside such criticism as uninformed. The entire episode is a sad comment on the functioning of government. It does not believe in a public debate before taking crucial policy decisions whether it is raising fuel prices or engaging in a strategic partnership with the US. It is also symbolic of the contempt that government has for citizens. Though the voter elects a government, he is not privy to decisions that affect his life. That speaks very poorly of Indian democracy.
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Our politicians are essentially pimps- they are pimping the nation for votes.