New Delhi, January 9: The Rajya Sabha was forced to adjourn soon after the discussion on the 124th Constitution (Amendment) Bill to provide 10 per cent quota to economically weaker sections (EWS) in the general category was initiated following the ruckus caused by opposition parties.
The opposition raised objections on procedural and substantive issues relating to the Chair’s exemption of rules allowing introduction of the bill, and discussion on it on the very same day.
The opposition members objected to the government ringing in the bill in the House’s list of business through a supplementary agenda.
Also, they were unhappy at not being informed on the duration of the discussion, to which Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Goel informed it was eight hours.
Also, Deputy Chairperson Harivansh Singh declined to give a ruling on a DMK member’s motion seeking division of votes, which emerged as another rallying point for the opposition benches against the government.
They stressed that since the DMK member’s motion was admitted by the Chair, it must give a ruling. Singh said he would give it after the discussion, which did not pacify the opposition.
With opposition members entering the Well of the House, and sloganeering by them intensifying, the House was adjourned till lunch.
Before the bill was taken up for discussion, the opposition raised objections to extension of the House without following the rules. Congress’s Anand Sharma said the government was working through stratagem of subterfuge. “It takes a decision in the mid of night,” he said.
Leader of the House Arun Jaitley responded to the opposition charge saying the Chair and the government had the jurisdiction to extend the functioning of the House.
Vijay Goel said extending the House was necessitated on account of pending bills which could not be taken up due to disruptions and adjournments. The move to extend the House was in public interest.
Introducing the bill to amend the Constitution, Union Social Justice Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot said the Lok Sabha had passed it on Tuesday, and urged the House to pass it too.
He said due to lack of provision in the Constitution, the earlier attempt by the Narasimha Rao government to provide 10 per cent quota to EWS could not see fruition.
“The present government wants to give quota benefit to economically weaker sections, and for this it wants to make provision in the Constitution,” he said, adding that the Mandal Commission had also recommended giving 10 per cent quota to EWS.
He said it is not related to the cap of 50 per cent quantum of reservation imposed by the Supreme Court. The ceiling is for quota to SC, ST and OBC categories.
