UNI

New Delhi, May 25: The Congress on Wednesday defended its policy of extending reservations for OBCs in institutions of higher education, saying the party has to respond to the needs of the people in the changed scenario.

Replying to a question as to how the Congress was favouring reservation for the OBCs after having opposed the then Prime Minister V P Singh's move to implement the Mandal Commission report in 1990, party spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan said the Congress, the largest party, had ''to respect the aspirations of the people.''

"Though we are the oldest party, we have to change with the times,'' she said. ''We have to respond to the people's need.

Asked why the Prime Minister had not initiated a dialogue with political parties in a bid to reach consensus as decided earlier, Natrajan said he would hold talks with all those whom he would consider necessary to do so.

''Whom he will talk to, I can't say," she said.