PTI

Chennai, May 28: Tamil Nadu government would promulgate an ordinance within a week to provide for reservation for Muslims in education and employment, chief minster M Karunanidhi said.

He made the announcement while responding to requests from various speakers at the Seventh International Islamic Literary Convention here on Sunday night.

The speakers, who included deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha Rehman Khan, wanted reservation for Muslims on the lines of those available in Kerala and Karnataka.

Karunanidhi promised quota within quota, whereby the Muslims will be entitled for reservation within the existing 69 per cent reservation.

Kerala and Karnataka have made four per cent reservation within the 50 per cent reservation in education and employment.

Khan said it was under his chairmanship of the Minorities Welfare Committee in 1993 that reservation for Muslims was implemented in Karnataka.

Earlier, Karunanidhi was honoured with 'Umara Pulavar Award' comprising Rs 1 lac cash prize and a memento.

Stressing the need to keep up promises made, he said that the world lost Saddam Hussein since the US did not keep up its word.

"US president George Bush had promised that if weapons of mass destruction were not to be found in Iraq, the US would not attack the country. However, he did not keep up his promise, though no such weapons were found, and we lost Saddam," he said.

State governor Surjit Singh Barnala, in his address, stressed on religious harmony in the country for its growth and development. He also recollected the contribution of the Muslim community in the country's freedom struggle.