JD(U) may rescue UPA govt on quota Bill

The Janata Dal (U) seems to have decided to vote with the Treasury benches on the crucial constitutional amendment Bill moved by the government on reservation for students of scheduled castes and tribes in private educational institutions.

Party president Sharad Yadav indicated as much today when he said that although his party would put on record its objection to the amendment not making any provision for reservations for Other Backward Castes (OBCs), the vote would be in support of the Bill.

This means that there are cracks developing in the NDA opposition to the Bill and, if introduced, it may yet scrape through despite BJP's 137 votes against the motion.

A constitutional amendment requires two-thirds majority in the House to be cleared. With the government saying that it has managed to convince smaller parties that reservations for OBCs in the present Bill will not stand scrutiny in court.

"Beyond a point no party wants to be seen as opposed to a move which will benefit scheduled castes and tribes," said a government floor manager. The treasury managers appeared confident that the Bill will scrape through and even the BJP appeared resigned to it.

BJP chief whip Santosh Gangwar, however, did try and make a last ditch effort to include the clause which would enable OBCs to enjoy reservations in private educational institutions. As chairman of the OBC MPs forum he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today to press for the inclusion of this clause.

BJP spokesperson VK Malhotra stressed that his party too was in favour of the Bill, except that it wanted all private unaided institutions under its purview, including those of minority community.

"We want this to cover all institutions, including minority institutions, or at least have a more sensitive definition of the term minorities," he said.