Congress made BSP raise promotion quota issue: BJP

As the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) stalled parliament's upper house demanding reservation in promotions Friday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged that the Congress was behind it as it did not want a debate on FDI in retail.

"The Congress has made the BSP raise this issue as it does not want a debate on FDI (foreign direct investment) in retail," BJP leader Smriti Irani told IANS.

"The Congress does not want a vote on FDI in retail because it will show they have no mandate for it. They have gone back on what they said in parliament. They said they will consider views of all sections before taking a decision," she said.

A constitutional amendment bill providing reservations to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in job promotion is listed for this session. BSP members, however, are demanding it should be passed first.

The Rajya Sabha proceedings were disrupted with BSP members demanding reservation for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in job promotions, and the house was adjourned till 2.30 p.m.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day shortly after noon over the opposition BJP, Left and Trinamool Congress creating noisy scenes, demanding a debate on FDI in retail.