Despite widespread protests, Singh said: “We are a democracy and not a banana republic. You cannot hijack the process and browbeat me. There is no need for desperation and anger. The issues can be resolved with patience.”

“Through protest and one-sided actions, we cannot resolve the issue. There is neither a need nor is it proper to disturb peace. Nobody is talking of removing the students who are studying in the institutions at present,” he said.

On the middle-path advocated by party leader Rahul Gandhi, who had said that both those in favour of and opposed to quota have “valid points”, he said: “A middle path can only be found in a calm and cool atmosphere and not when lathis are being used by one side and slogans by the other.”

Trying to placate the agitating students, he added: “I am always willing to talk to protesting students.”

Singh also condemned the lathicharge on students who were agitating against reservation and said if people want to make their point peacefully, they had the right to do so.

“Lathi is not the answer to anything,” he said, appealing to students to maintain calm.

On his future strategy in the wake of the agitation, he said, “If there is no understanding in society, no strategy works. The issue can be resolved through talks. If there are people who did not get anything, they have to be given something, which is to be decided.”

He claimed that no party was against the proposal which had been passed in the Lok Sabha with near unanimity. “If anyone wants to change his stand, he is free to do so,” he said.

... contd.