NEW DELHI: Janata Dal United president Sharad Yadav, who is also convener of the opposition NDA grouping, has praised oil minister S Jaipal Reddy for implementing a quota system for Other Backward castes (OBC) candidates in allotment of new petrol pump dealerships.
The ministry on July 20 cleared the proposal to reserve 27% of new petrol pump dealerships for OBC candidates. It also changed the marketing guidelines for state-run fuel retailers to usher in the process to select new dealers through draw of lots.
"With this drastic change in distribution policy, at least now an OBC candidate can hope to get dealership...," Yadav said in a letter he wrote to Reddy on Thursday.
The JD(U) president also praised Reddy for showing initiative to bring in changes in the policy. "You brought this significant policy change without any pressure and fanfare," Yadav said in the letter.
"There had been lot of allegations of discrimination in that (previous) system... This (new) process would be so transparent that there would hardly be any scope of complaint. This is the result of your sincere efforts in helping the downtrodden people of the society..." he said.
Yadav's letter comes amid a buzz of PM Manmohan Singh planning a Cabinet reshuffle soon. Coming from a seasoned opposition leader, the letter also dispels notions of Reddy's alleged procrastinating nature and projects him as a well-wisher of downtrodden, a factor that can help the minister in politics of his home state, Andhra Pradesh.
Edited By Cen Fox Post Team
