Imphal, September 12: While assuring that issue of reservation of seats for OBC would be discussed during the State Assembly session which is scheduled to begin from September 15, MOBC Minister Md Allauddin Khan has appealed to All Manipur Muslim Students' Organisation (AMMSO) to call off its ongoing economic blockade and the proposal for imposing general strike.

Talking to media persons at his office chamber today, the Minister said implementation of OBC Reservation Act in Manipur has been delayed as there is need to make some amendments in the provisions of the Act.

Assuring that OBC Reservation Act would be implemented in Manipur definitely, the Minister pointed out that as per directive of the Supreme Court, the provisions of the Act need to be amended before being implemented by the respective State Governments.

Over and above this, an OBC Commission has also been constituted, he said, adding that after a thorough discussion on the issue, the Commission has to submit its recommendation to the State Government.

It is on account of this process that it has taken some time to implement the Act in Manipur, the Minister explained.

The Minister assured that both the Opposition and the Ruling would be discussing the matter seriously including the provisions to be amended during the Assembly session beginning from September 15 and ensure passing of the same.

While observing that the agitation launched by AMMSO since August 17 is reasonable and justifiable, the Minister, however, went on to dissuade the student body from taking recourse to any agitational move which might cause suffering to the people, and appealed to the student body to call off its ongoing economic blockade and the proposed of the four-day long general strike which would come into effect from midnight of September 14.The MOBC Minister further clarified that OBC Reservation Act is not just for Muslims alone as the seats have to be shared among other communities belonging to OBC category.

As per the directive of the Supreme Court, out of total seats to be reserved, 31 percent is for scheduled tribe, 2 percent for scheduled caste and the 17 percent for the OBC.

Since there is only 17 percent for the OBC, the benefit should be extended to the more underprivileged lost among the OBCs, the Minister made it clear.

Apart from communities belonging to OBC, Buddhists and Sikhs would also come under the ambit of OBC, he said while reiterating that Muslim community alone is not entitled to all the seats reserved for OBC.

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