'Quota bill aimed at diverting attention from Coalgate'

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday termed the introduction of a bill for reservation in job promotions as a "diversionary tactic" by the Congress, to take away attention from irregularities in coal blocks allocation.

Talking to reporters in the Parliament House complex, Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ravishankar Prasad said the bill was brought hurriedly in a very suspicious manner, and the government had no intention of getting it passed.

"The bill has been brought in a very suspicious manner. There was no discussion on it after the all-party meeting, not even a whisper in the business advisory committee. All of a sudden, on a day when CBI raids are on, the government passes the bill in the cabinet, and on the very next day brings it to the Rajya Sabha," Prasad said.

"This is a tactic to divert attention from the coal scam. The government wants the attention to be diverted to caste politics, from corruption," he said.

The BJP leader also blamed BSP chief Mayawati for supporting the government in its defence of corruption.

"We seriously doubt Mayawati's intention to fight against corruption. The government is using the BSP as a shield," he said.

The BJP leader, however, added: "We are totally in support of social justice and affirmative action."

Asked about Mayawati's appeal for maintaining peace so that the bill can be passed, Prasad said: "We would also urge her to join the BJP's war against corruption."