Bill for quota to SC/STs in promotions in govt jobs on Aug 22

Minister of State for PMO V Narayansamy informed the Upper House that a bill will be brought in this regard on August 22 after an all-party meeting, which will discuss the issue on August 21.

"The Prime Minister will call a meeting of leaders of all political parties on 21st of this month to discuss the issue of SC/ST reservation. This has been the demand of the honourbale members. On August 22, the government will be able to bring the bill in the House," Narayanasamy said bringing the uproar over the issue to an end.

The announcement came after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh talked to the members including BSP chief Mayawati on the issue in the House when it was adjourned for 15 minutes.

In the Lok Sabha, SP and BSP members trooped to the Well as soon as the House met for the day demanding reservation for SC/STs in promotions in government jobs.

With members refusing to relent, Speaker Meira Kumar allowed some of them to speak.

Shailendra Kumar (SP) said there was fear in the minds of a number of SC/ST government employees on the lack of reservations in promotions.

Panna Lal Punia (Cong) said Parliament had given SC/ST persons the right to reservation in government jobs and five persons cannot take away this right.

Dara Singh Chauhan (BSP) demanded that the SC/ST employees should be granted reservation in promotion in government jobs immediately.

In the Rajya Sabha, BSP supremo Mayawati said government had promised during in the last session to call an all-party meeting to discuss quota in promotion for SC and ST persons, but the meeting did not take place.

Mayawati pointed out that a discussion had taken place in the House and there was almost unanimity among all parties on it.

She urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was present, to bring in a Constitution amendment bill on the issue during the ongoing Monsoon session. She also threatened that BSP will not allow the House to function if the issue is not resolved.

As she spoke, other BSP members were on their feet and the House witnessed some angry exchanges between BSP and Congress members after which it was adjourned till noon over the issue as well as over BJP`s demand for discussion on black money.

Responding to the demand from members in Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said the matter was of utmost importance for the government but a response to the Supreme Court has to be worked out in such a way that it should stand the test of time.

"We cannot do it in a hurry, we have to give a considered response," Bansal said.

As soon as the Rajya Sabha reassembled, BSP members raised the issue again demanding a response from the government.

They trooped into the well shouting slogans "anti-Dalit government will not be allowed to continue" forcing Tariq Anwar, who was in the Chair, to adjourn the House for 15 minutes. Some SP members were also in the well.

Government managers including Narayanasamy and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla then tried to tackle the situation and walked up to Mayawati, Yechury and Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley.

The ministers talked to Mayawati for a few minutes after which the BSP supremo went to the Prime Minister to discuss the issue. Later, Narayanasamy announced the decision restoring normalcy in the House.