New Delhi:
At 5 pm today, the Rajya Sabha will vote on whether there should be reservations in promotions in government jobs for Dalits and tribals. While the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is pressing for the contentious legislation, her arch-rival Samajwadi Party (SP), led by Mulayam Singh Yadav, is vociferously opposing it.
The controversial Constitution (117th Amendment) Bill 2012 that seeks to provide reservation in government jobs for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes resulted in chaos inside Parliament last week with unruly scenes and disruptions being witnessed in the Rajya Sabha, including a walkout by the Samajwadi Party.
In fact, the SP has further toughened its stand on the issue, saying implementation of the bill will set a bad precedent. On Saturday, Mr Yadav also issued a veiled threat to the Congress, saying he will review his stand on supporting the UPA government which banks heavily on his party for the external support that it provides.
"We will decide when the situation arises," he said in Mainpuri in Uttar Pradesh, when asked if the SP will support the government if the Bill is taken up. His party has also alleged that the UPA government is trying to "blackmail" Mr Yadav him over his refusal to back the bill. "Conspiracy is on to trap the Samajwadi Party chief in the CBI net for not supporting FDI and a bill on quota in promotions," SP spokesman Rajendra Chowdhury claimed in a statement in Lucknow on Sunday.
The Congress, though, seems determined to push through the quota bill. The party has decided to issue a whip to its MPs in Rajya Sabha, asking them to vote in favour of the
bill today.
"The Congress is committed that there should be reservations in promotions for SCs and STs. After much thought we have committed to this and we are bringing it to Parliament and we hope that we will be able to get the Bill cleared in the Parliament," party spokesperson Rashid Alvi said. "Definitely the party will issue a whip. Why will it not issue a whip?", he added.
Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath had told NDTV that he will ensure that the "quota bill" is also cleared by the Lok Sabha before this session of Parliament ends on December 20.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), meanwhile, has dubbed Mr Yadav's threat as "mere
political posturing". The party is reportedly willing to support the legislation with some amendments.
"SP and BSP are hand-in-glove with Congress. On several occasions, the two have jumped in to save the UPA government...The threat by Mulayam Singh Yadav is a mere political posturing," BJP Vice-President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters.
Mr Naqvi was referring to the recent vote on FDI in retail in Parliament wherein the government managed to secure a win in both Houses, amply aided by the SP and BSP. The Uttar Pradesh powerhouses, with 22 and 21 MPs, provide external support to the shaky coalition.
(With PTI inputs)