RS approves quota bill amid drama
new delhi — India’s Parliament has approved a bill providing a 10 per cent quota in government jobs for the poor, general category people left out of existing quotas for low-ranking castes.
The Congress party and other opposition parties supported the legislation on Wednesday, but criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government for bringing it months before the national elections to garner votes.
The Modi government unexpectedly moved the the bill in the lower house of Parliament on Tuesday and got it approved.
The upper house adopted it on Wednesday. It now needs the approval of India’s president, a formality, to become law.
Earlier, questioning the timing of the Bill, the Congress and the opposition in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday slammed the ruling Bharatiya Janata party saying the government was playing election “politics”.
They said it was a disrespect shown to the Indian democracy’s highest insitution. ‘The Constitution (One Hundred and TwenthFour Amendment) Bill, 2019’ seeks to provide 10 per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions to economically weaker sections in the general category.
The bill was introduced in the Upper House amid din following protests by the opposition which
demanded it be sent to a select committee for scrutiny.
Speaking on the legislation, Congress senior leader and former Minister Anand Sharma said: “You brought the bill in haste because you had to before the Model Code of Conduct comes into force, thinking ... lets dangle a carrot in front of the public,
show them another dream that Modiji made arrangements for their children’s employment.” He said by the haste shown in bringing the Bill, it was beyond comprehension that a government “on departure lounge” after “befitting” defeat in three state elections brought the bill on the eve of elections. He dared the BJP to bring the women reservation bill. “If you are really concerned about women...bring the women reservation bill instead of ‘beti bachao beti padhao’ slogans and we will pass it tonight,” he said.
He charged the government with not taking the opposition into confidence saying “there is no consent from the Opposition. The situation is such that there is no dialogue between the Opposition and the government.” On job promises, he said “the government promised to give two crore jobs every year in 2014. Forget about generating jobs, 11 million people lost their jobs in the year 2018 itself ”. He said there was a sharp decline in jobs whether in government or public sector enterprises.
He said the Congress was not opposed to the Bill as it was very much there in its manifesto and had always been in its favour but the way the BJP government was showing direspect to the institution was deplorable.
“I deplore it, this is calculated, deliberated disrespect to the highest institutions of the Indian democracy... We are all political parties but it is the government which is playing politics,” he said.
Ram Gopal Yadav (SP), while supporting the bill, demanded that reservation for OBCs be enhanced to 54 per cent keeping in mind the increase in their population. —
The government promised to give 20 million jobs every year in 2014. Forget about generating jobs, 11 million people lost their jobs in the year 2018 itself.
Anand Sharma, senior Congress leader
What stopped you for bringing this bill earlier? This is not even a money bill...If you had honesty, this bill could have come earlier and could have really benefitted people.
Ram Gopal Yadav, Samajwadi Party
There is no food but every hungry man is handed an empty plate, that’s what Modi government is doing with the youth of India,” Shahid Siddiqui, a political analyst and a former lawmaker,
Shahid Siddiqui, political analyst and fromer lawmaker