We came to know about UGC D.O. letter No. F. 1-6/98- (SCT) dated 15th from the registrar, University of Hyderabad. This letter explicitly cancels the reservations for SC/St students without giving any explanation for the cancellation. It was quite a shocking news for the students who belong to the disadvantaged sections (SC/ST/BC). So we dalit and other progressive organisations came together to form Reservation Protection Forum(RPF) to insist on the continuance of the Reservation. We strongly feel that even before OBC's, Women, Minorities could raise the question of reservation, within the given scope of Constitutional Provisions and Mandal Commission Recommendations, government has struck at the roots, which would give rise to a major crisis. The crisis is immediate which will keep all disadvantaged sections effectively out of the academic institutions and public sphere. We see it as conspiracy of the right wing and counter-revolutionary forces. In this context we strongly feel that, fight against this at various levels is necessary at the national level.

RPF with this aim, has started the agitation in Hyderabad University Campus. We have gone on hunger strike, had a press meet, effigy burning, etc. Till now press has been sympathetic towards the agitation. We are getting in touch with civil rights organizations, student unions, faculty, non-teaching staff, dalit and other progressive organizations at local and national level. We are getting in touch with the political parties and their leaders. We have given representations to honorable Speaker Prathiba Bharathi, A. P. State Legislative Assembly, Sukhvinder Reddy (M.P Nalgonda) in this regard. This question was also raised in Andhra Pradesh Assembly proceedings by opposition parties. We have sent telegrams to the President, Union of India and UGC Chairman.

Our Future Action:

1. Boycotting classes

2. Dharna at UGC south zonal office, hyderabad.

3. State wide bandh of Universities.

Our Demands:

1. Since our basic right (eductional right) is already under threat, we demand UGC/HRD Ministry to withdraw the D.O immediately.

2. The Mandal Commission Report should be implemented effectively in all fields.

3. The reservation policy should be implemented in effective manner in public institutions and enterprises, and to introduce reservations in private sector also.

We expect Cooperation and support from one and all.

-RESERVATION PROTECTION FORUM dsrs@uohyd.ernet.in