PTI

New Delhi, May 23: As the anti-reservation protests continued, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday made a fresh appeal to agitating students to call off their strike and assured them that no deserving student would be denied an opportunity to secure education.

"I request all those who are agitating on the quota issue to call off their agitation and have faith in our Government to protect the legitimate interests of all sections of our student communty," he said addressing a gathering of leaders of ruling UPA and its allies to mark the coalition's second anniversary here.

"We will pay special attention to the needs of socially backward classes, while ensuring that no no deserving student is denied an opportunity to secure education," he said.

Describing the youth as the country's "greatest asset", he said, "when empowered with capabilities they can help build a stronger and more dynamic India. We have to fulfil the aspirations of all our young people. We have to work to protect the legitimate interests of all students." He asserted that the Government will provide educational opportunities for all the children.

The Government, Singh said, was convinced of the need to have a "fair, just and inclusive" education system "where every section of the society feels that there is scope for their youth to acquire knowledge and skills as per their needs and become partners in the progress of this great nation".

"There shall be no ambiguity in our commitment to work assiduously for the well being of all sections of our society", he asserted.