Tamil Nadu Assembly ratifies SC/ST reservation

Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday unanimously ratified the extension of quota to SCs and STs in Lok Sabha and state assemblies by another 10 years, a Constitution amendment Bill for which was passed by both houses of Parliament.

Leader of the House, O Panneerselvam, moving a resolution for ratification traced his has party-led regimes' work for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes, Tribes and towards their upliftment.

DMK Deputy leader Duraimurugan, supporting it, however wondered why the extension (by the Centre) should not be for 25 years in the place of 10 years.

The opposition legislator also sought extension of reservation for Anglo-Indians and said the Centre eschewed Muslims as regards the CAA and the Anglo-Indians vis-a-vis quota in legislatures.

Congress MLA S Vijayadharani aslo welcomed the move and urged extension of quota to AngloIndians as well.

Nominated Anglo-Indian MLA Nancy Ann Cynthia Francis said hers was a "micro minority community," which had worked for the nation's growth in several sectors be it education, railways and the postal and telegraph.

The community for 70 years held the privilege of being nominated to the Lok Sabha and State assemblies, she said adding "we are going to be deprived of it."