Quota row: Bandh in TN on Mar 31

New Delhi: The Supreme Court's stay on the quota for OBCs in elite educational institions has Tamil Nadu's DMK-led ruling coalition all vexed.

The DMK has called a dawn-to-dusk bandh in the state on March 31 to express the "people's anguish" at the apex court's decision.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Democratic Progressive Alliance — a key ally of the ruling UPA at the Centre — and was presided over by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

Karunanidhi said the rights of Parliament had been "neglected" by the apex court's order, which was "a setback to social justice". He appealed to the AIADMK, MDMK, DMDK and other non-DPA parties to support the bandh.

News agency PTI reported that Karunanidhi demanded that an urgent meeting of both Houses of Parliament be called to discuss the Supreme Court's order and to take "a good decision".

While clarifying that the bandh is not in contempt of the Supreme Court's order, Karunanidhi said, "It is only to express the people's concern. This is only to condemn the efforts to destroy social justice."

(With PTI inputs)