RJD, SP accuse govt of denying OBCs 'chance' to join IAS, IPS

RJD and SP today accused the government of denying OBC candidates, appearing for all-India services examinations, a chance to get into IAS and IPS in the name of creamy-layer formula, a charge the Centre rejected.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour in Lok Sabha, Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav of RJD and Dharmendra Yadav (SP) claimed that the government was using the creamy-layer formula as a tool to "strangulate" OBC candidates by denying them entry into top services the IAS and IPS.
But the government hit back, saying the members of the two parties were trying to "portray a wrong picture".

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said the government is "ready" for any change in the formula. "The rule on creamy layer is in place since UPA rule in 2004. You are painting a wrong picture...We are just following the same rule," he said, adding that the BJP and the NDA government are committed towards reservation for OBCs.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh clarified that information is sought from OBC candidates about creamy layer to avoid court cases by other candidates. "Their interests are not harmed. It is sought to avoid litigation," he said.
Singh assured that he was ready to get the issue examined, even though there was no confusion.

Some members claimed that following the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission recommendations, children of government employees working in the lower rung cannot make it to services like IAS and IPS as the income criteria in the creamy layer formula creates hindrances.

Hukum Deo Narain Yadav (BJP) said the National Commission for Backwards should be granted constitutional status to give it more teeth in tackling cases of violation of OBC rights.
K C Venugopal (Cong) raised the issue of price rise and said there is a "general feeling" that the "government is not taking enough steps" to curb inflation. While diesel, petrol and kerosene price are already high, prices of other essential commodities are set to go up during festival season, he said.

Demanding a short duration discussion on price rise, he said prices of pulses to tomatoes have exceeded their average rates from 40 to 130 per cent.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (BJP) said some academic institutions have done away with five per cent reservation for children of Kashmiri migrants and demanded action against such institutes by the HRD Ministry.
Sanjay Jaiswal (BJP) lamented that Health Minister J P Nadda has not come up with a statement on reports that NEET paper were up for sale.
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Prem Singh Chandumajra (SAD) alleged that an AAP MLA had shown disrespect towards holy books followed by various communities and also misbehaved with women.

He demanded that such parties which do not have respect towards women and holy books should be "banned" as they can cause harm to the country.
BJP MP Virender Singh raised the issue of death of school students at an unmanned level crossing in Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh and demanded that the state government and the Centre should grant compensation to their families and those of the injured.
Anwar Raja (AIADMK) raised the issue of 77 Tamil Nadu fishermen held captive by Sri Lankan navy.
As Raja raised the issue, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan remarked that this issue has been raised a lot of times.