•Shekhar Gupta: So would you rather have thought that the Ministry you would have been this time was HRD and not Law

Veerappa Moily: You know ultimately that is the subjective decision of mine. But the objective decision will be taken by Manmohan Singh and also by Soniaji, you know, in the best interest of the party and the best interest of the administration. And I have not given out my choice to anyone, including these two leaders

•Shekhar Gupta: Right. But tell us some of the resistance you had or some of the challenges you faced. Because some of us think you really saved the higher education system while at the same time carrying out a political agenda as well ….of bringing in more reservation

Veerappa Moily: No, no. The reservation concept should not be taken in a narrower way.

•Shekhar Gupta: Or in a negative way

Veerappa Moily: Or in a negative way. It has its own not only political agenda but national agenda

•Shekhar Gupta: Because you yourself come from an OBC so maybe you understand limitations

Veerappa Moily: Social engineering in a democracy cannot be underestimated. Social engineering and democracy will have to be sustained and nurtured. This is how the reservation plays (place??) the policy. You remember in 1960 when John F Kennedy introduced the Equality Act to involve these corporate sectors, private corporate sectors for providing the Black, that kind of an affirmative action. It was initially opposed. But it was ultimately the biggest corporate multinational they said affirmative action makes a good business. That is it, that is the mindset which is opposed to it. But in the ultimate analysis it will serve. For example, in a pond, you don't get much quantity of, that kind of a big quantity of fish

... contd.