NEW DELHI: Mr Sitaram Kesri, the new Union Minister for Welfare, who appeared to have been sidelined by the Prime Minister, Mr P.V.Narasimha Rao in the distribution of portfolios, is back in action.
In what is considered as a step of major political significance, Mr Kesri has initiated urgent measures for speedy implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations.
Within two days of his joining the Narasimha Rao Cabinet, in charge of the Ministry of Welfare, Mr Kesri is understood to have instructed senior officials of his ministry to prepare a detailed note, giving the latest situation about the Supreme Court case against implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations.
Mr Kesri, a senior Congress (I) leader and treasurer of the AICC(I), has let it be known to the Ministry officials in no uncertain terms that the best legal brains of the country must be employed on behalf of the Government to argue in favor of implementation of the Mandal report. He has stressed at the same time that all efforts should be made to get an early and favorable decision in the matter.
It may be recalled that Mr Kesri was perhaps the only Congress (I) Parliamentary board and CWC I0 member who had come out openly in support of the implementation of Mandal Commission recommendations providing for reservation of jobs for backward classes. Even while the anti-Mandal wave was sweeping the country among higher caste members, Putting the Congress (I) on the defensive on this issue, Mr Kesri supported the measure initiated by the former Prime Minister, Mr V.P.Singh.
There were several senior members of his party who are believed to have complained against him to the Congress (I) chief, the late Mr Rajiv Gandhi, over his pro-Mandal statements.
The Welfare Minister has simultaneously directed Ministry officials to prepare draft legislation for setting up special courts for trying cases of atrocities against minorities and other weaker sections.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 12, 1991
