BJP says no to Mayawati's request on SC/ST Bill passage

Rejecting BSP chief Mayawati's request to allow Parliament to pass reservation in promotion Bill, BJP today decided it will continue to force adjournment of both the Houses on coal block allocation issue.

BJP parliamentary party floor leader held a meeting here under the chairmanship of L K Advani to discuss the party strategy in the Rajya Sabha when the reservation in promotion of SC/ST employees is introduced and discussed for passage tomorrow.

Party sources said BJP will not allow the House to function and press for its three demands--Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's resignation, cancellation of 142 coal block allocations and a fair and impartial probe.

Party leaders said it has been decided that BJP will not accede to Mayawati's request that the House to be allowed to function for a short duration to pass the Constitutional amendement needed for the proposed legislation.

BJP is in principle supporting the Bill but feels the government is bringing this legislation to divert attention from the coal block issue. Mayawati met the Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj and her Rajya Sabha counterpart Arun jaitley today afternoon and requested them to help in passage of the Bill which was cleared by union cabinet in the morning.

SP is likely to disrupt the introduction of the Bill in the Upper House as it wants concessions for OBC also to be included in the Bill.

Meanwhile, BJP issued a whip to all its MPs to be present in both the Houses tomorrow, party sources said.