New Delhi, Dec 12 (UNI) A Bill to extend reservation for Scheduled castes and Scheduled tribes by a further period of ten years on Thursday got the nod of parliament with the Rajya Sabha passing it by a majority of the members of the House and two thirds of those present and voting.
The Constitution (126h Amendment) Bill, 2019, moved for consideration of the House by law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, was passed by the Upper house with 163 members of the House voting in its favour.
With the Rajya Sabha passing the Bill, which has already been passed by the Lok Sabha, has got the nod from Parliament.
Noisy scenes were witnessed in the house when, the law minister, responding to the remarks by Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, made some comments on the record of the Congress with regard to giving Bharat Ratna to Dr BR Ambedkar.
This created an uproar among the members of the Congress, including Mr Azad, who later walked out of the house in protest. Walkout by the Congress led to a tricky situation as the Bill being taken up is a Constitution Amendment Bill which requires vote by two thirds of members of the house to be passed.
Later, however, the members of the Congress returned to the House during the division on the Bill.
Commenting on the episode, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said,’’if we take up the Constitution Amendment, it needs atleast 2/3rd of the votes. I appeal to all members to join and take part in the voting and see that the House takes up the issue as per the expectation of the people."
On the walkout by his party, Azad said,’’ there is no disrespect to the House. "We get hurt sometimes. There has to be mutual respect. Respect begets respect. While we fully go by the direction of the Chair, we also expect some respect from the Chair. We were humble and we created institutions. My submission to the government would be, you can't compete with the Opposition."
The Constitution (126th Amendment) Bill, 2019 seeks to extend the reservation for SCs and STs in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies by another 10 years till January 25, 2030.
The passage of the Bill came even as the Opposition, including the Congress, slammed the Government for not extending the provision of reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies to the Anglo Indian community.
Expressing disappointment on the Government not extending the benefit of reservation to the Anglo Indian community, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said political empowerment is necessary for all communities and religion.
"I seek the reservation for Anglo-Indians to be taken up in Lok Sabha and Assembly. Anglo-Indians are the ones who have worked on empowerment for women,"Azad said.
Under Article 334, SC, STs and Anglo-Indians were given reservations in the legislature for 70 years, till January 25, 2020.
Responding to the debate on the Bill, the Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the Government has taken several measures for the empowerment of Dalits.
On some members expressing apprehensions that reservation for scheduled tribes and scheduled castes will be ended, he said,’’Narendra Modi government will never end reservation for SCs and STs.’’
On the Opposition slamming the removal of provision of reservation for the Anglo Indian community, Prasad said,’’I acknowledge the contribution by the Anglo Indian community. However, their contribution cannot be recognised only by giving them reservation.’’
After the passage by the Rajya Sabha, the Bill would be sent to states for ratification by 50 per cent of the assemblies before it comes into force.
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