Click to play videoNew Delhi: A day after the Supreme Court passed its verdict on the OBC quota, political rumblings have begun across the nation.
In Hyderabad, the opposition forced the adjournment of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly on the quota issue. In neighbouring Chennai, pro-reservation students protested outside the High Court.
The Supreme Court order has also got Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi worried. After all, his political interests suffer because OBCs form a major part of the Tamil Nadu electorate.
"It is shocking and we will meet like-minded parties to discuss the issue. It will be a setback to the progressive steps brought in by VP Singh," says Karunanidhi.
Along with the DMK, its ally the PMK has called for a bandh in the state on Saturday. The bandh would mean that Chennai and the rest of the state would come to complete standstill.
In fact, the bandh will spell the beginning of a long-drawn political battle against the Supreme Court's order.
Up North, the pro-reservation political leaders are equally worried. Union Railway Minister Lalu Yadav is still hopeful that a way out would be found: "It's our responsibility to fight for the rights of the backward castes."
The Congress can claim the backing of all political parties because everybody had supported the Bill in Parliament. But if it doesn't present a foolproof case before the court, there will be a lot of criticism not just from the Opposition but from allies, who have a strong OBC support base.
The Government, however, has to first decide how to go about it — whether to convince a larger bench of the court with the existing data or carry out a fresh census.
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