IN SOLIDARITY: Members of the Students Federation of India express their support for the proposal to reserve 27 per cent seats in Central institutions of higher education for OBCs at a rally in Purasawalkam on Wednesday . — Photo: S. THANTHONI

CHENNAI: In a display of support for the proposal to reserve 27 per cent seats in Central institutions of higher education for the Other Backward Castes (OBCs), various groups of doctors, students and others held meetings and rallies in the city on Wednesday.

SFI rally

Members of the Students Federation of India (SFI) held a rally at Purasaiwalkam urging the Centre to bring in the constitutional amendment that conferred on elected governments the power to interfere in education.

The SFI has also condemned the use of force on students protesting against reservation and has asked the Government to engage in dialogue.

Several associations have pledged their support for reservation for OBCs and agreed to participate in a human chain to be organised on Tuesday, demanding that the Central Government continue with the announced agenda.

Speakers gave assurances of participation at the first meeting of the Campaign Committee for Reservation, organised by the Doctors Association for Social Equality, at G.N. Chetty Road here on Wednesday evening.

Leaders of the Tamil Nadu chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) reiterated their support for reservation and termed as `unfortunate' the decision taken by the leadership of the IMA in Delhi to oppose reservation. Leaders of the Tamil Nadu Post-Graduate Medical Students Association, the All India Student Federation, the All India Youth Federation, the SFI, the Democratic Youth Federation of India, the Tamil Medical Association, the students' wings of the DMK and the PMK and the LIC OBC Association participated in the meeting.

The human chain has been planned outside the Memorial Hall on Tuesday evening at 4 p.m.

The SFI has planned to hold street corner meetings from Monday onwards across the street, stressing the need for reservations.

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