Monday, May 22 2006 15:27 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: With the OBC reservation issue still simmering, key NDA constituent JD(U) today (May 22, 2006) demanded expansion of higher education in the country.

After his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his Parliament House chamber, JD(U) President Sharad Yadav told reporters that he had suggested upgradation of old colleges in the country to make higher education easily available to students belonging to the deprived sections.

"I also suggested expasnion of IITs and IIMs tofacilitate poor students," he said.

A strong votary for reservation, Yadav demanded expeditious setting up of five AIIMS-type institutions in different parts of the country as already decided.

"It is upto the Government how they will respond," he said, regretting that higher education for poor students has been ignored over the years.

He said the Government should make optimum utilisation of the Constitution Amendment bill on OBC reservation and grab the opportunity to provide higher education to the hitherto neglected sections.

Asked about the Prime Minister's response, Yadav said Singh told him that he was seized of the matter and was trying to find a way out.

On whether increasing the number of seats could be a solution, the JD(U) chief said it was for the Government to take a decision on how it will deal with the matter.

Government's proposal for OBC quota in elite educational institutions has led to country-wide protests.