By TN Ashok
New Delhi, Jan 08 (sarkaaritel.com)- Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today asked the opposition to support the government legislation for 10% reservation to economically backward sections wholeheartedly without any grudges.
The quota bill was tabled in parliament today for consideration and passage and saw a heated debate in the house with some opposition paties expressing its own reservations. Earlier the union cabinet headed by prime minister Narendra modi had approved the constitution 124thamendment BILL on Monday providing for 10% reservation in jobs and higher education to economically backward sections among the upper castes. If passed in the Lok Sabha, the Bill will be moved in the Rajya Sabha Wednesday — the winter session has been extended by a day for members in the Upper House. The Bill needs to be passed by a special majority of two-thirds of members present in each House, not less than half the strength in both. Following this, it will have to be ratified by at least half of the state legislatures. It will also have to face legal challenges if any.
Sudip Bandyopadhyay, leader of the TMC, questioned the timing of the bill Saying one is in a dilemma over why the bill is being introduced with just 100 days left in the Parliamentary elections and not in the last 4.5 years of the NDA government. So far reservation is concerned, why not issue of reservation for women be taken up with similar seriousness, he asked.
TMC however extended its support to the bill.
Thambidurai , aiaqdmk, said as most of his partys members had been suspended, he was forced to speak on the subject ( he is the depu7ty speaker of the lok Sabha). Have govt schemes for the poor failed? There are enough schemes.
This reservation bill which you are bringing will be struck down by the Supreme Court. The economic criteria cannot be taken as the cause for reservation instead social criteria should be taken. He claimed that the legislation would be struck down by the courts.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who was intervening in the debate, targeted the opposition
In a light-hearted manner especially the CPI leaders saying India is the first country where communists are not happy when poor people are being empowered. He asked the Congress to support the bill large heartedly and not with a grudge.
Jaitley maintained already existing quota system would not be disturbed by the EWS bill.: The bill aims to provide economic justice and it would strengthen the Economically Backward Sections of the class. Speaking on the sealing of the 50 per cent quota set by SC, Jaitley says that in the past states tried and failed as they did it through notifications.
Just as equals cannot be treated unequally, unequals cannot be treated equally as well, arun jaitley said asking the opposition to support the bill.
Earlier the Congress demanded the bill be sent to JPC first. Congress which is supporting the bill and government’s bid to provide 10 per cent quota to General category is now demanding the bill be sent to the JPC. KV Thomas speaking in Lok Sabha said, “We support this quota bill, we are not against this, but the way it is being brought raises questions on your sincerity. My request is to send this to JPC first.”
Amit Shah , BJP Chief, said it will give great relief to people, who have an annual income less than Rs. 8 lakhs. Crores of young people will have benefits from this reservation in education & jobs. The reservation of 50% for SC, ST & OBCs remains unaffected due to this decision.
” It is an electoral plot, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury, said the the move to give 10 per cent reservation to the economically backward among the general category is an attempt by the government to gain electoral benefit by combining caste passions with communal polarization. The CPI(M) alleged General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said that The Modi government kept quiet for five years on this issue and suddenly brought (it) in now on the eve of elections and particularly after losing in the five states where elections were held recently. “This is an effort by Modi government to try and now combine caste passions along with communal polarization in order to derive electoral benefits. “
