Just three days after bailing out the government on the issue of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Rajya Sabha, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati threatened to take a ‘tough stand’, including a decision to ‘pull out’ in case the government does not seek the approval of the bill providing reservations to SC/STs in promotion in government jobs.
“We will see for two-three days more. We will see government’s stand on the issue. The SC/ST bill is a very serious issue for us,”” she told reporters outside Parliament House.
As government’s two supporting parties the BSP and Samajwadi Party (SP) have taken divergent positions on the bill, the principal opposition BJP taunted the government, asking why it cannot seek rapprochement between the two, as it did during the voting on FDI.
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day on Monday after an uproar over the constitution amendment bill. An all-party meeting called by Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari also failed to break the deadlock.
The SP has also taken a tough stand, warning the government not to insist on the quota bill. “This move has been slammed by the courts and if the government is adamant enough to get this bill passed, the courts will slam this bill again. We will continue to oppose this bill,” SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav said.
The government, however, said it was committed to the social justice.
“There is nothing like quota bill is a reward in return of Maya’s support. The BSP supports the bill. We are trying to convince SP to also support it,” said the minister of personal V Narayanasamy.
Mayawati also charged the BJP for bringing up the issue of US retail giant Walmart to stall the discussion on the quota bill. “They allowed the Lok Sabha to function but they did not remember the issue of Walmart and lobbying there? It proves that BJP and its supporters don’t want this bill to be passed,” she said.
She said it was the duty of the Rajya Sabha chairman to take a decision to bring the House
in order and said either marshals are to be called in or action against members disrupting the House members be taken, including their suspension.
