Lok Sabha passes quota Bill for economically weak in general category

Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi were present in the House when the Bill was passed. The government will table the Bill in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday

7:07 PM

Upper caste quota will not breach 50 per cent SC cap: Jaitley

 

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday rejected criticism that the 10 per cent reservation for the poor among the upper castes in jobs and education will breach the 50 per cent cap set by the Supreme Court, saying that the limit was specific to quota for the SCs/STs and socially and educationally backward classes. (Read more here) 

7:04 PM

"While we support reservations, this cannot be brought in abruptly without any consultations. Consultations are required because the criteria for beneficiaries, with an annual family income of Rs 8 lakh, will be depriving sections which require them the most," Yechury said.

7:04 PM

The Left leader said the ceiling of an annual income below Rs 8 lakh for beneficiaries was too high considering the main demand of the protesters participating in the nationwide labour strike on Tuesday was a guaranteed monthly income of Rs 18,000, which is Rs 2.16 lakh per annum.

7:04 PM

"This is an effort by Modi government to try and now combine caste passions along with communal polarisation in order to derive electoral benefits," Yechury said.

7:04 PM

The Modi government kept quiet for five years on this issue and suddenly brought (it) in now on the eve of elections and particularly after losing in the five states where elections were held recently, Yechury said.

7:04 PM

Speaking at a press conference, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said a constitutional amendment Bill requires half of the members to be present in both the Houses and of that at least two-third must support it. Then it must go to the state Assemblies before it can be notified or implemented. "It is an electoral ploy," he alleged.

7:03 PM

Quota Bill an attempt by govt to gain electoral benefit: CPI(M)

 

The move to give 10 per cent reservation to the economically backward among the general category is an attempt by the government to gain electoral benefit by combining caste passions with communal polarisation, the CPI(M) alleged on Tuesday. 

7:01 PM

Ram Vilas Paswan defends quota Bill

 

Defending the quota Bill in the Lok Sabha, LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan said that the government has been working for the upliftment of Dalits and tribal, and now, the poor section of the upper class will also benefit from this new step. 

6:45 PM

Quota Bill doesn't need to be ratified by state Assemblies: Jaitley

 

Jaitley also added the Bill, once passed by Parliament, will come into effect and would not be required to be ratified by state Assemblies. 

6:44 PM

Taking a jibe at Opposition parties for their protests, Jaitley said if they are supporting the Bill, they should be whole-hearted and not grudgingly doing it. 

6:44 PM

The BJP in its manifesto also supported the measure and is now working to implement it, Jaitley said, adding Constitution makers also spoke about equality of status and opportunity. 

6:43 PM

With Opposition members using 'jumla' jibe, Jaitley hit back saying if the mention of a similar quota for the general category in their manifestos was a jumla as well. 

6:43 PM

Jaitley asks Congress to walk the talk 

 

Quoting from the Congress manifesto, which called for such a quota, Jaitley asked it to "walk its talk" by supporting the bill, describing it as a test for the Opposition party. 

6:43 PM

Attempts were made earlier too by governments at the Centre and states in this regard but failed because they were done either through common statutory provisions or notifications, Jaitley said.

6:43 PM

The bar, Jaitley added, is for caste-based reservations, while the 10 per cent quota Bill seeks quota for the economically weaker sections in the general category.