The Cabinet on Tuesday cleared a Bill
which provides for reservation to the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled
Tribes (STs) in government job promotions. The government will introduce the
Bill in Parliament on Wednesday or Thursday.
Congress's new-found ally, the Samajwadi Party had earlier
lashed out at the Centre saying that while reservation of jobs for SCs/STs and
OBC candidates was fine, reservations in promotions would not be such a good
idea. Although the party leaders indicated that they wanted a similar provision
for the OBCs in job promotions, SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav said the party still
opposed the Bill.
"The Cabinet's decision is against natural justice. We
will continue to oppose this amended Bill. This is a diversionary tactic of the
government to divert attention from the ongoing coal blocks allocations,"
he said.
While sources in the government said that the Samajwadi
Party leaders have been assured that OBCs will also be extended this facility
in the near future, Union Minister Salman Khurshid said the Congress will try
to get the party to agree to support the Bill.
"We hope that the Samajwadi Party will be on board. It
was a unanimous decision. It is not a political googly. It was an honest
attempt," said Khurshid.
Meanwhile, Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati, who has
always been in support of the Bill, welcomed the move.
"We welcome it. We struggled a lot for this. The BSP
had first raised it in April in Rajya Sabha following which the Government
agreed to an all-party meeting," said Mayawati.
She further requested the NDA to vote for the amended Bill.
She met Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, and requested
the BJP to postpone their protests over coal blocks allocations by one day so
that the House could pass the Bill.
"They should let the House function and help us in
passing the Bill in the current session. UPA leaders and ministers should also
talk to the Opposition to let the House function for an hour to let the Bill go
through.
"In case, it does not get through, then it means that
both the NDA and the UPA aren't interested," she said.
The SC/ST Quota Bill: Who stands where
- Congress, BSP and the Left are in favour of the Bill.
- Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena oppose the Bill.
- BJP's stand yet unclear. Some leaders are in support,
others refuse to comment.
Quota in promotions not legal: Attorney General
Attorney General Goolam E Vahanvati had earlier reportedly
written to the Law Ministry on reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes in job promotions, pointing out that the proposal is not legally
possible. Sources say that Vahanvati told the Law Ministry that reservation for
SCs/ STs in promotions could be struck down by the Supreme Court.
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