STAFF REPORTER Mumbai
To ensure that the backward classes were given their due and not left out of the quota ambit when private universities start cropping up in Maharashtra, Republican Party of India chief Ramdas Athawale has deman
ded that the state reserve seats for them in self financed private universities too.
” There should be reservations for backward classes in the self- financed private universities that would be set up in Maharashtra,” said RPI leader Ramdas Athawale here on Saturday.
” The state government ensured passage of the Private Universities Bill in haste, early last week, but there was no discussion on it in the Assembly.
This obviously raises suspicion in the minds of RPI,” Athawale said.
He charged that the passage of the bill in haste showed that government was working under the pressure of education barons and industrialists.
Athawale said, ” RPI would hold demonstrations in the state on August 23 to demand reservations in the Bill.” Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan when faced with criticism over not providing reservations for backward classes in The Private Universities Bill, had said on Friday, that the state government was open to making amendment to the act in the next session.
