Sonia Gandhi writes letter to PM, urges him to extend reservation for OBC candidates in NEET

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Sonia Gandhi stated that Other Backward Classes (OBC) candidates were denied reservation under All-India Quota being filled through National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in State/UTs Medical Education institutions. She further added that OBC candidates lost over 11,000 seats.

New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi, on Friday, wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the denial of reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBC) candidates under All-India Quota being filled through National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in State/UTs Medical Education institutions.

"Under the All-India Quota, 15%, 7.5% and 10% seats are reserved for SC, ST and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) candidates respectively, in both Central and State/UT Medical education institutions. However, reservation for OBC candidates under All India Quota is restricted to Central Institutions," stated Sonia Gandhi in her letter.

She further added, "As per the data compiled by the All India Federation of Other Backward Classes, since 2017, OBC candidates lost over 11,000 seats, in All India Quota, due to non-implementation of OBC reservations in State/UT Medical education institutions."

Congress President cited the 93rd Constitutional Amendment which envisaged special provisions for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribes in admission to educational institutions including private educational institutions, whether aided or unaided by the State, other than the minority educational institutions.

"Denial of reservations to OBCs in state medical institutions All India Quota, being administered by GoI, violates the very objective of 93rd Constitutional Amendment and is a barrier to access medical education for deserving OBC candidates," alleged Gandhi.

The row for reservation in NEET sparked after the Congress unit of Tamil Nadu, followed by Communist Party of India (Marxist) moved to Supreme Court against the decision.

Gandhi urged PM Modi to extend the reservation for OBC candidates in NEET for the "interest of equity and social justice".