JOIN USHours before the contentious Bill seeking reservation for the SCs and STs in promotions in government jobs was put to vote on Monday, the Samajwadi Party created a ruckus in both Houses of Parliament, leading to suspension of the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for 30 minutes.
Proceedings in the Lok Sabha were repeatedly disrupted by the SP MPs, led by party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, who trooped to the Well in protest against the Bill.
The Speaker had to adjourn the House on four occasions, despite Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath crossing over the treasury benches to speak to Yadav.
The SP chief has threatened to withdraw support to the UPA government on charges that the CBI was being used to threaten him.
Speaker Meira Kumar’s appeal to the MPs to stop protesting as she would give the party time to raise the matter during the Zero Hour, fell on deaf ears.
“The Rajya Sabha is debating this matter. If and when this Bill will be passed by the Rajya Sabha, it will come to this House,” Nath said. The Bill, passed by the Upper House in a majority vote, will land up in the Lower House on Tuesday.
Failing to stall the legislation in the Upper House, Mulayam Singh’s brother Ram Gopal Yadav demanded a quota for Muslims through another constitutional amendment. The vociferous SP brigade compelled Chairman Hamid Ansari to adjourn the House for 30 minutes in the morning.
Yadav raised the issue during the Zero Hour once again. “Sachhar committee recommendations are yet to be implemented. Conditions of the Muslims are worse than Dalits. The government should bring another constitutional amendment to permit quotas for Muslims,” he said.
Due to the ruckus, the government could not introduce the controversial Land Acquisition Bill in the Lok Sabha.