Parliament highlights: Oppn attacks BJP, says it wants to erase reservation

Opposition parties in Rajya Sabha on Monday demanded that the government file a review petition in the Supreme Court over its ruling on reservation in jobs and promotions for SC/STs

4:10 PM

Centre failed to defend reservation system: Opposition parties

Opposition parties in Lok Sabha on Monday targeted the government over the Supreme Court order that states are not bound to provide reservation in appointments, saying the Centre has failed to defend the reservation system.
 

Hitting back, the government said the Congress is trying to politicise a sensitive issue. "This is my charge that the Congress is politicising the sensitive issue," Defence Minister and deputy leader of the House Rajnath Singh said.

 

4:09 PM

RSS may be pleased but Dalits, tribals "disappointed over SC ruling on reservation: CPI

The CPI on Monday said the RSS might be pleased but the Dalits, tribals and backward classes are "disappointed and agitated" with the Supreme Court ruling on reservation in appointments and promotions.

 

In a statement, the CPI said Article 16 of the Constitution upholds the responsibility of state to provide equality of opportunity in matters of public employment.
 

"Nothing in this article shall prevent the state from making any provision for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of any backward class of citizens which, in the opinion of the state, is not adequately represented in the services under state.
 

"The RSS may be pleased with the recent ruling of Supreme Court. But the Dalits, Tribals and Backward Classes are disappointed and agitated," it said.

4:07 PM

Reservation policy facing peril after BJP came to power: DMK

DMK President M K Stalin on Monday alleged that the policy of providing reservation was facing peril ever since the BJP assumed office at the Centre.
 

Slamming the saffron party, the Dravidian party chief claimed that Ministers at the Centre and Sangh Parivar outfits were airing views against giving quotas and alleged it had led to many a confusion and landed the country in a tight spot.
 

Stalin, in a Facebook post, urged the Centre to take appropriate steps to ensure that reservation for Backward, Most Backward, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were protected and social justice upheld.

4:06 PM

It's in DNA of BJP-RSS to try and erase reservations, says Rahul Gandhi

It is in the DNA of the BJP and the RSS to try and erase reservations, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Monday and asserted that his party will not allow doing away with quota.
 

Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, he said, "We will not allow reservation to be done away with, no matter how much Modi Ji or Mohan Bhagwat dream of it." Gandhi slammed the BJP government of Uttarakhand for contending in the Supreme Court that there was no fundamental right to claim reservation in appointments or promotions in public posts, and there was no constitutional duty on the part of the state governments to provide reservations.
 

"The ideology of the RSS and the BJP is against reservation. The RSS and the BJP cannot stand the idea that Dalits, tribals and OBCs have reservations," the former Congress president told reporters outside Parliament. Read more

 

4:03 PM

Mamata urged Centre to work together with opposition parties to revive the economy

West Bengal Chief minister Mamata Banerjee Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the union government to work together with opposition parties and refrain from the "politics of vendetta" to revive the economy.

Every body should work together to improve the economic condition. If needed Prime Minister Narendra Modi should speak to the opposition parties, the TMC supremo said at a post budget press conference.

Banerjee referred to the recent comments by RBI on the state of the economy and said the union government should look after it, instead of being busy in the politics of hatred.
 

"Whatever RBI is saying is a sensitive matter. The union government should look after the economy, instead of being busy in the politics of hatred. The prime minister should take everybody along, if needed hold discussions with opposition parties," Banerjee said while urging the union government to refrain from the "politics of vendetta".

3:49 PM

Economy near collapse, being attended by incompetent doctors, says Chidambaram in RS

Former finance minister P Chidambaram on Monday tore into the Modi government's handling of the economy, saying it was close to collapse and was being attended by "very incompetent doctors."

Initiating the debate on the Union Budget for 2020-21 in Rajya Sabha, he said rising unemployment and falling consumption was making India poorer.

"It is living in denial," he said, adding the economic growth has fallen for an unprecedented six consecutive quarters. Read more

 

3:31 PM

SC order on reservation: Govt says it was not party in court; Cong protests

The government on Monday informed Lok Sabha that it was not a party in the Supreme Court which has ordered that states are not bound to provide reservation in appointments.

 

Making a statement in the House, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot said the Centre was also not asked to file an affidavit on the issue.

He said the top court order pertains to a decision of the Uttarakhand government taken in 2012 when the Congress was in power in the state. 

This led to protests by Congress members who walked out of proceedings. Read more

3:01 PM

Congress MPs walk out from Lok Sabha

Congress MPs walk out from Lok Sabha after Union Minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot said, "The case arised due to Uttarakhand Government's 2012 decision to not implement reservation in promotions, in the state. In 2012 Congress was in power in Uttarakhand". 

1:02 PM

Lok Sabha adjourned till 2pm.

1:01 PM

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha on SC verdict on SC/ST Act

The Social Welfare Minister will soon make a statement. Please wait for him to make his statement. Congress party is politicising this sensitive matter.

12:57 PM

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan in Lok Sabha on Novel Coronavirus

So far 811 deaths have been reported in China. India is taking all preventive measures. We are monitoring and reviewing the situation daily. Till now 1,118 flights have been screened.

 

12:57 PM

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on SC judgement

This is SC's decision. Govt of India has nothing to do with it. The Social Welfare Minister will make a statement at 2:15pm today

12:56 PM

LJP President and MP Chirag Paswan in Lok Sabha

Lok Jan Shakti Party does not agree with the Supreme Court's decision that reservations for jobs, promotions, is not a fundamental right. We urge the Centre to intervene in this matter.

12:56 PM

Apna Dal's Anupriya Patel in Lok Sabha

Apna Dal's Anupriya Patel in Lok Sabha: Apna Dal does not agree with the Supreme Court judgement. So far, it is the most unfortunate decision given by the Supreme Court. 

 

11:51 AM

Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal in Lok Sabha on Gargi college case

It has come to our notice that some outsiders had entered the college, which is not right. The college administration has been asked to look into it.