Parliament passes Bill to provide 10% quota for poor

Rajya Sabha clears proposed law after nine-hour-long heated debate

The Parliament on Wednesday cleared the Constitutional Amendment Bill providing 10% quota in education and employment to economically weaker sections in the general category, after the Rajya Sabha approved the proposed law following an over nine-hour-long heated debate, during which the Opposition accused the government of bringing the Bill in haste with an eye on the coming Lok Sabha election. The AIADMK staged a walkout vehemently opposing the government’s move, while some other political parties, including the DMK, the Left and the Aam Aadmi Party demanded that the Bill be sent to a Select Committee.

DMK member Kanimozhi had demanded that the Bill be sent to a Select Committee and also sought division on her motion. She got support from several members, including T.K. Rangarajan of the CPI (M) and CPI’s D. Raja. The motion was, however, defeated. The Bill was passed with a majority of 165 against seven votes. Earlier, Congress leader Anand Sharma said provisions under Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution were for the backward and weaker communities. Attempts were made twice to extend reservation beyond their scope, but the Supreme Court struck them down.

He said it took the government four years and seven months to bring the Bill in the last session. Mr. Sharma questioned the circumstances in which the proposed law had been brought, stating that the BJP had lost the recent Assembly elections in five States and that the party got an indication it was not headed in the “right direction.” Also questioning the economic criteria set for extending the quota, he said not many people would benefit from it, especially when the government had failed to create enough jobs.

Mr. Sharma asked the government to extend the parliamentary session further and bring in the Women’s Reservation Bill. Kapil Sibal said there were three hurdles that the law would have to cross, stating that there was complete non-applicability of mind on the government’s part, its constitutionality and the implementation. Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the reservation would be applicable to jobs in both Central and State governments, adding that the legislation gave powers to the States to determine the economic criteria for beneficiaries.

Source : https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/parliament-passes-bill-to-provide-10-quota-for-poor/article25954902.ece

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