SC/ST promotion quota bill tabled amid SP-BSP scuffle in RS

The government today introduced amid commotion a bill in the Rajya Sabha to guarantee job promotions in the government for SC/ST population even as BJP protests against the allocation of coal mines led to repeated adjournment of Parliament. Scuffle in RS during tabling of quota bill

The government on Wednesday introduced amid commotion a bill in the Rajya Sabha to guarantee job promotions in the government for SC/ST population even as BJP protests against the allocation of coal mines led to repeated adjournment of Parliament.

A-TV-grab-shows-Samajwadi-MP-Naresh-Agrawal-and-BSP-MP-Avtar-Singh-Karimpuri-engaged-in-a-scuffle-in-Parliament

The bill, approved by the cabinet on Tuesday, was introduced in the Upper House by minister of state in Prime Minister's Office V Naryanasamy, amid vociferous protests by Samajwadi Party members.

In no time, Samajwadi member Naresh Agrawal and Avtar Singh Karimpuri of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which is all for the Bill, were locked in a scuffle.

Earlier, there was ruckus as deputy chairman PJ Kurien called the minister to table the bill.

Bharatiya Janata Party members meanwhile continued their protests demanding Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's resignation over the controversial coal blocks allocation.

Soon after the bill was introduced, the presiding officer adjourned the house till 2 pm.

Earlier, BJP protests forced the Lok Sabha to adjourn for the day even as Samajwadi Party members raised slogans inside the house against the promotions quota.

Not much business could be done in the house. But minister of state for finance Namo Narain Meena withdrew the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Amendment) Bill, 2009. Some papers were tabled amid din.

Later, Samajwadi leader Mulayam Singh Yadav said his party would hit the streets against the bill that guarantees promotions in government jobs to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe.

His party wants the quotas to be extended to Other Backward Classes.

Though the SP supports the UPA, he said the government did not consult him over the bill.

BSP chief Mayawati, meanwhile, blamed both the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) for delaying the passage of the promotions bill.

She told reporters outside parliament: "Both alliances have political motives. The Congress delayed it because of presidential elections. BJP is delaying it now because of political reasons."

Mayawati said she asked BJP leader Sushma Swaraj to help pass the bill but the BJP and its allies did not heed the request.

What happened in RS

Rajya Sabha on Wednesday witnessed high drama as a scuffle broke out between SP and BSP members when the government introduced a contentious Constitution amendment bill to provide reservation in promotion to SCs and STs in government jobs.

The bill, which seeks to circumvent a Supreme Court order quashing such a decision of Uttar Pradesh government in April, seeks to bring certainty and clarity in the matter by substituting a clause of Article 16 of the Constitution.

The scuffle broke out as soon as deputy chairman PJ Kurien asked the government to move the Constitution (117th Amendment) Bill, 2012.

Members of SP, a party opposed to the bill, were on their feet and party MP Naresh Agrawal proceeded towards the well.

He was encountered by BSP member Avatar Singh Karimpuri, who grabbed the SP member by his collar to prevent him from trooping into the Well.

At this, other members from the BSP including Brajesh Pathak immediately intervened and held back Karimpuri.

A combination photo shows Samajwadi Party SP member Naresh Agrawal and Bahujan Samaj Party MP Avtar Singh Karimpuri.