UNI

Shimla, May 28: Railway Minister Lalu Prasad today defended 27 per cent quota for OBCs in higher educational institutions and termed the medicos' agitation against it as "unnecessary".

"The interests of all sections of the society will be protected and seats for general students will remain unaltered after the Central Government decided to increase the number of seats in medical colleges in a phased manner," he said while talking to reporters after inaugurating a computerised railway reservation centre here.

Lalu termed the ongoing medical students agitation as unnecessary after the union government announced that the number of seats in the medical colleges would be increased.

"Reservation for OBCs in the higher educational institutions will be implemented and agitation on this issue will not be allowed." "The OBCs have remained neglected for so many years even after independence and now if they are being given justice, why is there opposition to it?" he said.

Replying to a question whether the reservation was creating a caste divide in the country, he said it already existed in the society but it would not sharpen by reservation to OBCs.