Parliament approves 10% reservation for general category poor: Highlights

Rajya Sabha passes the Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill, 2019, with 165 'ayes'

3:42 PM

Moving the quota Bill, Social Justice Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot said the Constitution does not allow reservation on economic basis and due to that poor people in general category miss out on opportunities. "There was a complaint by the poor of the general category that they could not avail of government benefits. The decision has been taken after much consideration. This Bill will uplift the poor," he said.

3:42 PM

Madhusudhan Mistry of Congress said the quota Bill was not complete and told the government that it cannot have both introduction and voting on the same day. He asked what was the urgency in the passage of the Bill.

3:41 PM

Before the Rajya Sabha was adjourned till the afternoon, CPI's D Raja also objected to the consideration of the quota Bill, demanding that it be sent to a Select Committee.

3:41 PM

Kanimohzi demands quota Bill be sent to Select Committee

Before the Rajya Sabha was adjourned till the afternoon, as Social Justice Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot was moving the quota Bill, DMK's K Kanimohzi objected to it, demanding that the legislation be sent to the Select Committee.  

3:32 PM

It will take 800 years to fulfil this promise: Anand Sharma

 

"This 10 per cent reservation covers 98 per cent people of the country. Before coming to the session, I talked to a lot of economists and they told me that going by the current numbers, it would take 800 years to fulfil this promise," said Anand Sharma. 

3:30 PM

Anand Sharma said that the question was how many jobs were there. "34 lakh jobs are there in the central government and they have managed to create only 95,000."

3:30 PM

Govt dangling a carrot in front of public: Anand Sharma

Anand Sharma said that the government was thinking that if not 2 crore jobs, then let us dangle a carrot in front of the public and show them another dream that Modi has made arrangements for their children's employment.

3:28 PM

Anand Sharma said that the government brought the quota Bill in haste because they had to before the Model Code of Conduct comes into force.

3:27 PM

1 crore people lost their jobs in 2018: Anand Sharma

In the Rajya Sabha, Congress' Anand Sharma said that the Modi government promised to give 2 crore jobs every year in 2014, but forget about generating jobs, more than 1 crore people lost their jobs in the year 2018 itself.  

3:04 PM

In the PSUs of the country, in 2016-17, the jobs have come down from 11.85 lakhs to 11.31 lakhs... this is the Press Information Bureau data that I am quoting: Anand Sharma of Congress. 

3:03 PM

"After every high tide, there is a low tide... Nation still waiting for the promised 'Acche Din,'" says Congress MP Anand Sharma. 

3:02 PM

Modi is fulfilling promise made in every party's manifesto: BJP

 

Prabhat Jha, BJP leader attacked Rahul Gandhi over Rafale. In rebuttal Congress leader Anand Sharma said that Gandhi is not in Rajya Sabha and the comment should be expunged. Continuing his remarks, Prabhat Jha said, "Every party's manifesto carries a promise of reservation for poor. Modi is India's first prime minister who not only completed his promise but also what you wrote in your manifesto. Every member in the House wants Quota Bill to be passed."

2:57 PM

Anand Sharma (Congress): Before entering the debate, we must know the history of reservation. The Constitutional Assembly thought those who were historically disadvantaged, been deprived of their rights, must be uplifted and thus reservation was given to the SC/ST.

 

He refutes BJP's claim that such a Bill is being brought for the first time. He reminds the Treasury Bench that attempts were made twice, but they were struck down by the Supreme Court.

 

Sharma says he has reservations about the manner in which the Bill was brought to the Parliament.

2:48 PM

Elangovan (DMK) gives notice to adjournment motion, claiming the quota Bill was hurriedly introduced. The Chair says the Chairman has not given permission for the same.

2:39 PM

Jha continues. He cities newspaper reports on the quota Bill. He claims every political party had mentioned affirmative action in their election manifesto.  Quoting the income tax data, he claims 55 per cent of population are poor.